The Age Pension age is NOT changing

The department responsible for delivering Federal Government payments, such as the Age Pension, has taken the unusual step of going public to rebut web-search and social media news that the pension age has increased.

There are no plans to change the pension age, which is 67 years, nor are there any changes to payment eligibility or offering bonus payments.

The department advises, “If there are changes to any of our payments or services, we’ll let you know on our official website and official social media channels. You can also ask us on our social media channels.”

The days of mistakes inadvertently being made by an individual newspaper reporter and the newspaper retracting the mistake are long gone.

Many seniors now get news and information by searching the web and through social media. So, it’s now not about the reader necessarily choosing the information, the information comes to the reader. And fake information can be deliberate. Why?

In our click-driven world, controversial headlines also generate more attention, engagement, and subscribers. That means there’s ample motivation for some news websites to share or even create fake news – even if it hurts others. It’s called clickbait.

Surprisingly perhaps, information about clickbait and tips to identify fake news and information was not to be found on the Services Australia or Centrelink websites (although useful information about avoiding scams is available).

The best top tips are available on the eSaftey Commission website, on the Young People page and not the Seniors page!  Given the rise in fake information aimed at seniors, it’s time this information was better targeted to seniors.

Check the story’s source and credibility

The first thing you should do if you come across a fishy story on the timeline, is to check the story’s credibility. Ask yourself: 

• Do you recognise the account or news site that’s sharing the story? 

• Does the person who’s reporting the information have the right credentials to tell this story? 

If the answer to these two questions isn’t a confident “yes”, this could be a sign you’ve stumbled onto fake news. Fake news is often published by “independent” organisations or reporters – meaning people who may not have done appropriate research.

Check for biases or an agenda

Understanding how or why the story was written can also tell you a lot about its facts. If the story was shared onto your timeline by a specific account, try to figure out that account’s intentions. What do they want you to do or believe after reading the information they’re sharing – and does that action or belief seem reasonable?

Consider how the story is written

If you’re still unsure, it may be worth opening the article itself. The way a news story is written is often a giveaway to whether it’s fake news. The story may be fake news if it:  

• Uses simplistic terms or emotionally-charged terms for complex issues

• Employs or references stereotypes without acknowledgement or context

• References incorrect or outdated information

• Employs sensational headings rather than focusing on facts

• Misspells words or uses incorrect grammar

• Uses low-resolution pictures, or pictures that appear to be manipulated. 

People who create fake news are less interested in reporting the truth as they are in producing sensational content or information that furthers their interests. 

If you feel comfortable and want to engage, do a deeper dive

Fake news is getting more sophisticated, which means it’s harder to catch. If you’re still unsure – but are mentally prepared to engage – it may be worth doing a deeper dive on what you’re reading.

Checking an article for disinformation – such as the deliberate use of outdated, disproven, or irrelevant quotes – can help you figure out how much to trust it. If an article uses incorrect information, but doesn’t appear to have harmful intentions, it may just be misinformation.

More information about fake news and misinformation can be found here. How to identify and avoid online Centrelink scams is available here.