GBH is committed to the truth, facts and combating misinformation, disinformation and “fake news." Here are some tips to help you think critically, analyze sources and access information online.
1. Spotting fake news isn’t hard when you've got a library card
The internet is a great place to begin your research, but libraries — online and IRL — are your best resource for curated, accurate information.
From
WGBH News Forum: How To Spot Fake News
2. RTs do not = accurate information
A thousand likes or shares does not an accurate piece of information make.
From
WGBH News Forum: How To Spot Fake News
3. Don’t forget to S.I.F.T through your timeline
- S: Stop
- I: Investigate source
- F: Find better coverage
- T: Trace back to the original context
From
WGBH News Forum: How To Spot Fake News
Washington State Professor Mike Caulfield
4. Check Yourself
Just because you see a blue verification checkmark does not mean that the information being shared is accurate.
From
WGBH News Forum: How To Spot Fake News
5. BOTs = Beware Of Them
Accounts that aim to sow misinformation and polarization often use bots and automation.
From
Keep It Social: Are Twitter Bots Spreading Misinformation?
with Karen Hao, MIT Technology Review Senior Reporter
6. .com.com or .lo in the URL? U-R-Looking at an untrustworthy source.
If you don’t trust the curator, don’t trust the information.
From
PBS LearningMedia’s
Common Sense Education: Identifying “Fake” News
7. GOOD: Dissect the original source of the information
BETTER: Fact-check using other sites
BEST: Do a reverse image search
From
PBS LearningMedia’s
Common Sense Education: Identifying “Fake” News
8. Moral-emotional language, like “share if you’re outraged” = red flag
Accurate information isn’t emotion-based. It’s about fact vs. fiction.
From
PBS NewsHour: Fact vs. Fiction in the Media
For more media literacy resources to help you think critically, analyze sources and access information as informed citizens, check out our Combating Disinformation portal.
