Fact-checking
Introduction
People lie on the internet all the time. People remember things incorrectly and say things that are not quite right. People believe lies and spread them. Because of this, the internet is full with misinformation and disinformation.
Misinformation and disinformation
Misinformation is information that is incorrect. Disinformation is incorrect information that is spread on purpose (American Psychological Association 2022).
Fact-checking websites
There are websites that you can use to fact-check common rumours that spread online. Examples include AFP, Snopes and Reuters. I have linked some in the “useful links” part of this website. These cover many big misinformation stories.
Fact-checking yourself
Not every piece of information is going to be covered by one of these websites, however, as they mainly focus on bigger stories. Thankfully, there are still ways you can check.
- Check the post or article itself. Is the poster trustworthy? Are they an expert in their field? Do they have something to gain by spreading disinformation? How would they know this information?
- Was it posted recently? Can you be sure that any photos are of current events and not of past ones?
- Does the post have sources? If so, are they trustworthy sources? I think the website Media Bias/Fact Check is very helpful for this purpose. If there aren’t sources, that is something to be suspicious of.
- Do an internet search. Are there any other sources saying this? If it’s big news and no-one else is reporting on it, then that is suspicious. If there are articles, check who said it first.
Source list
Page created 22nd of April 2024