Alternative Health Websites and Fake News: Taking a Stab at Definition, Genre, and Belief

Terms like "fake news" and "alternative facts" are a part of everyday life now, but what do these terms mean to folklorists? In this paper, I consider types of fake news, where fake news occurs, and what motivates people to create fake news. I also address fake news by looking at alternative health belief sites, including anti-vaccination sites, as precursors to other types of fake news and as a way to understand the intersection of fake news and belief. Additionally, I ask that we, as folklorists and folk, consider our own belief systems and how they affect our research.