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How to Fact Check Misinformation

If you’ve spent any time on the internet at all, chances are you’ve come across some misinformation. It can be something silly about how left-brained or right-brained people see the colors in a meme differently, medical “advice” that could be potentially dangerous if someone follows it, or fake images and claims related to world events. Whatever the case, you can help stop the spread of misinformation by fact-checking it and not sharing information that is inaccurate or misleading. Many legitimate journalists and scholars have created free tools you can use to quickly and easily confirm or debunk info you see online.[1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Investigating Articles

  1. The original publisher of the article gives you some clues as to the article's legitimacy. If the website where the article appears isn't the original publisher, it will usually list that publisher at the top or bottom of the article. Look for language similar to "This article originally appeared in," or "Reprinted from," followed by the name of the publisher (which will usually also be linked).[2]
  2. Look at the byline of the article, which includes the name of the author and the date it was published. Find out if the author specializes in the field the article concerns or if they’re an expert. Run a quick Google search to see if they’re qualified to write about the information. If they aren’t, it could mean the article contains false or misleading info.[3]
    • If the author is a journalist, find out what other articles they’ve written to see if they’ve covered similar topics before.
    • Even if an author is listed as a doctor, scientist, or expert, take a second to look them up to make sure their credentials are real.
    • You can also check out the author’s LinkedIn to see their qualifications and news outlets they’ve worked for.
    • If there isn’t an author listed, watch out. It could be misinformation.
  3. Just below the author’s name in the byline is the date the article was published or updated. Make sure the date is current and the article isn’t reporting outdated information. Try to use sources with the most up-to-date information you can find.[4]
    • Outdated articles can be used to push a false narrative since they don't provide an accurate representation of what’s going on currently.
  4. Look up the claims or information the article is discussing online to see if any other credible and respected news sites are reporting about them as well. If they are, read what other sources have to say about the claims to see if they’re debunking them or if the info is real. If there aren’t any other sites reporting the claims, it could mean that it’s misinformation.[5]
    • Major news, such as medical or political news, will be covered by multiple news outlets. For instance, if you come across an article that says an asteroid will collide with the Earth, but you don’t see it being reported anywhere else, it’s likely a false claim.
  5. Inspect the headline and read the text of the article. Look out for loaded, biased language designed to push an agenda.[6] Keep an eye out for grammar and spelling mistakes as well as lots of exclamation points and text in all caps, which can be signs that the article isn’t professional and may be designed to trigger a reaction.[7]
    • Watch out for insulting and offensive language as well.
    • Poor spelling or grammar is a sign that an unprofessional news source is reporting the information.[8]
  6. Professional articles discussing major news will often include citations to other articles, expert opinions, or official reports to back up their claims. If you don’t see any sources or citations, that could be a sign that it’s misinformation.[9]
    • If there are sources cited in the article, use them to verify the claims in the article.
  7. Primary sources include government reports, collected data, court documents, and scholarly research. The source might be referenced in the article, but the information can be distorted to fit the narrative of the publisher or writer. Go directly to the primary source cited to see if the information being reported in the article is accurate.[10]
    • While the headline may not be entirely wrong, it can be intentionally misleading.
    • Data can often be misconstrued as well. For instance, an article can say that 90% of respondents to a survey answered that they support the death penalty, but if they only asked 10 people, that isn't a large enough sample to draw any conclusions about a larger population.
    • For medical claims, stick with primary sources such as WHO.
    • If you're looking at a government report or statement, take into account the government's reputation for honesty and transparency.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Debunking Memes and Images

  1. Memes and images with quotes attributed to specific people can circulate far and wide, especially on social media. Run the quote through a quick search online to find out who, if anybody, actually said it. If the quote doesn’t match the image, it’s most likely misinformation.[11]
    • Some graphics and memes claim to share data from reputable organizations. If the source isn't linked, search the name of the source or the information itself and see what you find.
    • Keep in mind that illegitimate sources often mimic the names of reputable organizations so they seem more credible or could be mistaken at first glance. A quick online search will show that the organizations are not the same.
    • Check for pixelation or other signs that an image has possibly been doctored. Protest signs frequently fall victim to this type of manipulation since the message can easily be changed digitally if the sign has a blank background.[12]
  2. If somebody else has already done this, you've just saved yourself a lot of work by looking at the comments. Keep in mind that merely disagreeing with a claim isn't the same as fact-checking it. Look for links or references to other sources that back up the claims in the comment. [13]
    • Follow the links and do a little analysis to make sure those sources are legitimate and reliable. If so, you might engage with that comment and indicate that you agree with it. On many platforms, more engagement with a comment moves it up so it's more likely to be seen.
    • If you don’t find anything in the comments, be skeptical and check out the claims for yourself.
  3. Memes and images that are shared online can say almost anything, but if the information is accurate, a professional news outlet likely reported on it as well. Search the claims you see in a meme and check the results to see if news sites or government agencies have articles about it.[14]
    • If there aren’t any other sources talking about the information, it could be false or misleading.
  4. Fact-checking websites are dedicated to debunking and disputing misinformation. If you come across a questionable claim, try looking it up to see if any of the fact-checking sites have discussed and discredited it.[15]
    • Members of the Poynter Institute's International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) are a good place to start. Check the list of signatories at https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/signatories.
    • Most fact-checking sites will explain why or how the information is false or misleading, so take a look at the full text for a better understanding.
  5. If the image was posted on a social media site or online forum, try reaching out to the person who originally posted it. Ask them if they can confirm the info and provide a source. If they can’t it could mean that the info is false or misleading.[16]
    • Sometimes, asking somebody to source a claim can help debunk it. If they can’t prove it, they might even be convinced to take it down, which can help stop the spread of misinformation.
  6. Paste the image’s URL into the search bar or upload the saved image into your favorite search engine, then click "search." The results you get will be previous instances of that image online, as well as similar images. Often, old images will be copied and recirculated with claims that they're related to something recent.[17]
    • RevEye is a useful free extension for Chrome or Firefox that searches multiple image databases for instances of an image.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Analyzing a Source

  1. Take a look at the website itself. Look for signs of an amateur or unprofessional site such as lots of pop-up ads. Check out the other links on the page. If there aren’t any, or they lead somewhere unexpected, the site could be fake.[18] Look for doctored images that seem to be fake or have been photoshopped as well. Check for spelling and grammar errors as well.
  2. Use a media bias website dedicated to monitoring misinformation online. Search for the source on the list and find out if they’re biased or if they publish misinformation.[19]
  3. Check for an “About Us” section or a page that describes the history of the site. If there isn’t one, it could be a sign that the site publishes misinformation. Read the description to find out if they have any slants, angles, or biases in what they publish.[20]
    • For instance, if a website’s “About Us” section says that they’re against the second amendment, then you’d want to be skeptical of any articles about gun control that they share.
    • Just because a page has a bias doesn’t mean the info they share is wrong. But it does mean the page's owners won't publish anything that goes against their beliefs.
  4. Check out the full URL of the source to help verify it. Look for an additional code, such as “.co” or “.lo,” added to the end of a well-known news site’s URL to indicate that it isn’t a quality source. [21]
    • For instance, if you see a URL that says “cnn.com.lo” it could be a fake site pretending to be CNN.
    • Be wary of slight variations of well-known URLs as well. For example, a URL like “cbsnewsnet.org.co” is likely phony.
  5. Professional news sites will include bylines that contain the name of the author and the date the article was published at the top of the article. If there isn’t a byline, the source and information may not be trustworthy because there isn’t a qualified or professional author attributed to the content.[22]
    • Click names on a few bylines to read about the writers' backgrounds. If most of the writers on the site have a marketing background, the info on the site is more likely content marketing or clickbait, not reliable news.
    • Look at a writer's country of origin or current base of operations as well. This can alert you to potential biases on the part of the writer or the site.
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Tips

  • Listen to your instincts and trust your gut. If the information seems unbelievable, investigate it. Chances are it might not be entirely accurate.[23]
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Warnings

  • Misinformation can be harmful. If you see dangerous or violent information being shared, report it.
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About this article

The Verified Initiative of the United Nations
Co-authored by:
COVID-19 Information Resource
This article was co-authored by The Verified Initiative of the United Nations and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Verified is an initiative of the United Nations, to provide content that cuts through the noise to deliver life-saving information, fact-based advice and stories from the best of humanity. Led by the UN Department for Global Communications, the initiative also invites the public to help counter the spread of COVID-19 misinformation by sharing UN-verified, science-based content with their communities through articles, videos, and associated media. The initiative is a collaboration with Purpose, one of the world’s leading social mobilization organizations, and supported by the IKEA Foundation and Luminate. This article has been viewed 17,555 times.
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Co-authors: 9
Updated: March 16, 2022
Views: 17,555
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