“News literacy is very low in Turkey,” says Mehmet Atakan Foca. “It’s more about propaganda. People live in an echo chamber, accusing others of being terrorists or pro-government, creating false stories to strengthen their opinions.”

Even fact-checking itself is used as a tool in a country riven by mistrust and division.

“News literacy is very low in Turkey,” says Mehmet Atakan Foca. “It’s more about propaganda. People live in an echo chamber, accusing others of being terrorists or pro-government, creating false stories to strengthen their opinions.”

Even fact-checking itself is used as a tool in a country riven by mistrust and division.

One website claims to be an independent verifier of news, but is actually run by a prominent columnist for Sabah, the main pro-government daily, and her husband. Instead of authenticating sources or photographs, it pushes the government line, discrediting perceived criticism of President Erdogan.