You get a story in your email or see it linked on the faceplusbookjournalfeeds.
It makes you angry! Kids these days!
Slow down cowboy. Let's examine a few key points that tend to accompany fake stories on the internet.
1: Does the story involve someone doing something really stupid, gross, dangerous or painful, yet the story insists that not only did one crazy person do it, but its a "growing" or "spreading" trend?
2: Does the story involve something specific to one social or cultural group?
3: Does the story seem to be custom-made to make you angry, disgusted or outraged?
If the answer is yes, there's a good chance you are being manipulated for an ulterior motive.
Click the "this site sucks" button in the top corner of your web browser (it looks like an X) and go have breakfast instead.