How to spot fake news
The thirty seconds before you share are where false information stops. Six checks are enough.
False information usually doesn't spread through outright lies. What spreads most is content with a true core wrapped in a false context: a real photograph carrying a headline that belongs to a different event. That is exactly why it is convincing.
You don't have to be a journalist to work out whether a piece of news is true. A few simple checks before you share filter out most of what is in circulation.
Look at yourself first
The most useful check isn't a technical one: if the content made you very angry or very happy, stop. False information spreads precisely because it stirs up strong feelings. The moment your urge to share is at its highest is also the moment your need to check is at its highest.
Images made by artificial intelligence
Producing realistic fake images is easy now. Hands, teeth, writing, repeating patterns in the background and details such as ears and glasses can still come out wrong. But these clues are disappearing fast; looking at the source is more reliable than looking at the image.
- Time2 minutes
- DifficultyEasy
- Steps7
๐งฐ What you need
- An internet connection
- Thirty seconds before you share
Steps
- Look at the sourceWho published the story? Have you heard the name of the site before? Addresses that look like the name of a well-known outlet but with a letter changed (such as haber-tr.co) are a classic method.
- Check the dateAn event from years ago can go back into circulation as if it had happened today. Look at the publication date; that is the only trick behind most fake posts.
- Search for who else has reported itIf it really is an important event, other sources will have reported it too. Search for the headline of the story, and be suspicious if it appears on a single site only.๐ก There are independent organizations that check facts; you can search the headline on their sites as well.
- Go beyond the headlineThe headline and the text often don't match. If you read the text and can't find anything that backs up the claim in the headline, there is no claim.
- Run a reverse image searchUpload the photograph to a search engine's image search. If the same frame belongs to a different year and a different event, it shows up straight away.
- Verify the quote and the numberWith statements like "the minister said this" or "according to the research, 70 percent", go down to the source. If no source is given for the quote, there is no quote.๐ก Real studies have a name, a year and a place of publication.
- If you are not sure, don't share itThe most effective way to stop false information is to keep it out of circulation. Sharing it while saying "I wonder if this is true" is spreading it too.
โ This guide is general information. Yudum cannot be held responsible for the outcome of following it; for official procedures always rely on the institution's own statement. Steps and fees change over time.
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