How to Spot Fake News
- Consider the source - Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission, and its contact info.
- Read beyond - Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story?
- Check the author - Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real?
- Supporting sources? - Click on those links. Determine if the info given actually supports the story.
- Check the date - Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they're relevant to current events.
- Is it a joke? - If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.
- Check your biases - Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgment.
- Ask the experts - Ask a librarian or consult a fact-checking site.
Credit: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions with thanks to www.FactCheck.org
Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers by 