DEAR MISS MANNERS: My mom has succumbed to fake news. She frequently shares outlandish information with me that she is passing off as fact.
Sure enough, when I look it up, it is usually related to some sort of internet hoax or misinformation. I think she's spending way too much time on social media, and I feel concerned for her.
How can I politely handle this? I have tried letting some pieces of "data" pass by, and actually challenging only a fraction of the claims she makes, or by selecting only the most serious or concerning (e.g., those related to inaccurate reasons not to get the coronavirus vaccine).
In these instances, I will verbally note confusion about the statement she made, then send her a link to a reliable website that debunks the theory. But I also imagine that could get annoying for her. Any recommendations?
GENTLE READER: Good-naturedly strike a deal: “I’ll stop sending you corrections when you stop sending me inaccuracies.”