When you see a post shared by a friend or family member, which makes you feel doubtful as it seems to be a click baity type of alarming ‘fact’ or ‘news’ or ‘medical information’ or it’s an image claiming something, or showing something, and it seems a bit far fetched, or you are not certain, how do you know if the information is true or not?
Here are 5 ways to fact check:
1. Who created the information? - look at the website, the writer, the about us page, and then ask how they would/could come across the information in question.
Are they a specialist, journalist, in the professional field (have knowledge about the information)?
What is the other content on the site/blog/post/account like?
2. How old is the information?
Although some sites do update the content (and add this), some of the content could be very outdated - always check when it was posted/written.
If you can’t see this (on the post, article, or page) use Google or search elsewhere to find a similar source about the topic/heading in question.
3. How did you find the information?
Who/What was the source? Have a look at what information the source/account is recommending to discern a pattern (if they have a professional field or some kind of expertise?)
If there is no source, and there are no credible links to a paper, study, article, other research, and the information cannot be verified in any way … it might be misinformation.
4. Check the information by looking elsewhere at other headings/articles and read them - and then check those sources. One source is not enough, a few sources may give you more information/insight.
If you do want to share the information (with family/friends) use the THINK method first
Is it True?
Is it Helpful?
Is it Inspiring? - I prefer is it Informative?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Kind?
The THINK (before you post/share) is or can be really helpful when using social media. Or even when you come across something on the internet. Or even if you want to tell someone something and share anything with someone.
Here’s how to help you evaluate fact from fiction, journalism from agenda https://tacomacc.libguides.com/c.php?g=599051&p=4147190
Please bear in mind that anything from posts, articles, videos, news, even quotes/sayings, images - can all be faked/altered/edited on social media and the internet.
Verify the information. Check official sources or visit a fact checking website. If it’s on social media without any sources … wait a little bit before sharing. If it is false, people will pick that up and start informing/sharing the real source. A helpful way is to find people who are credible in their fields of knowledge.
Some Fact Checking sites:
Fact check explorer: Fact Check Tools
RMIT Abc Fact Check: Fact Check - ABC News
Duke Reporter's Lab: Fact Checking News and Global Fact Checking Sites Displays interactive world map. The Reporters’ Lab explores new forms of journalism, including fact-checking, which is growing around the world, empowering democracies and holding governments accountable (Stanford School of Public Policy).
FlackCheck.org Headquartered at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, FlackCheck.org is the political literacy companion site to the award-winning FactCheck.org. The site provides resources designed to help viewers recognize flaws in arguments in general and political ads in particular. Video resources point out deception and incivility in political rhetoric.
Full Fact, based in UK - a team of independent fact checkers and campaigners
Lead Stories Established in 2015, Lead Stories intentionally seeks out viral stories using software and debunks them as fast as possible.
Media Bias / Fact Check MBFC News is dedicated to educating the public on media bias and deceptive news practices.
Media Smarts, Canada's Centre for Digital and Media Literacy
Misinformation and Disinformation: A Guide for Protecting Yourself Misinformation and disinformation (MDI) presents a challenge to American and other democracies. In this guide, you’ll learn what MDI is, and how to protect yourself, your children, and your loved ones. In addition, they provide resources on fact-checking, prevention and reporting misinformation.
PolitiFact Winner of the Pulitzer Prize. PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics. PolitiFact is run by editors and reporters from the Tampa Bay Times, an independent newspaper in Florida. PolitiFact staffers research statements and rate their accuracy on the Truth-O-Meter, from True to False. The most ridiculous falsehoods get the lowest rating, Pants on Fire.
Snopes Founded by David Mikkelson, a project begun in 1994 as an expression of his interest in researching urban legends that has since grown into the oldest and largest fact-checking site on the Internet, one widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and laypersons alike as one of the world’s essential resources. Read about methodology and rating system at http://www.snopes.com/about-snopes/
Use/ask your library, they have access to research websites, newspaper articles, and studies. If you have a library card, you can have access to a whole lot of sites which might help you with searching and researching.
Fact checking: Science and Medicine:
Retraction Watch Reports on retractions of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles.
SciCheck FactCheck.org’s SciCheck feature focuses exclusively on false and misleading scientific claims
If you are just using the internet, apps, and social media for enjoyment, to connect with family and friends, and to stay in touch with community, or your local area, or to stay up to date, you probably won’t feel the need to fact check, to find credible sources, and to certify or verify information.
However this is how the nonsense spreads.
If you are in doubt of anything, a ‘news’ item which seems/sounds far fetched, a ‘fact’ a friend or family member is posting, a clickbait type of article, a shared post with no credible sources, or when you search (or ask) there are no links to a study, article, or paper verifying the content, this is akin to tittle-tattle/hearsay.
Because there is so much misinformation and often misleading facts online; my advice is to doubt everything and check everything before sharing or posting.
So why fact check?
It gives us a second to read and reread, it may help to learn more about a subject, it encourages us to stop and think before we share, and it may slow down the spread of misinformation.
It will also be far more enjoyable to use and access the internet and social media knowing that you have verified credible sources, which you have checked yourself!
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