When people do not take time to question the information source, unchecked and false information can spread quickly. This means people are receiving confusing and misleading information and this can be dangerous.
Here are some things you can do to make sure you are reading and sharing reputable information.
Ask yourself: Who wrote it?
Well-researched information will have a qualified writer or organisation’s name attached to it. You can check the author’s credentials and qualifications.
Ask yourself: What are they saying?
Is the author giving you an opinion or a balanced and factual view of the topic? Do they tell you where they found their information from? Are any quotes used being used correctly or are they out of context? Does the article match the headline that you clicked on or does it feel misleading – like “clickbait”?
Ask yourself: When was this written?
Older and out-dated articles can have incorrect information. Check the date it was published and if it was updated recently.
Ask yourself: Where is this posted?
Make sure to check that the URL or Web address is the one you were intending to look at. Some websites may use copy-cat tactics to get people to read their site by accident. If you found your information on social media, remember that anyone can post anything on social media and it is easy to manipulate images and videos. If you found your information on a blog, remember to check their qualifications to write about the topic and that they are not fact-checked or aim to be unbiased like news agencies.
Ask yourself: Why did they write this?
Publishing content online is a great way to do many things. If the intent seems to be to inform, look for their sources and check the trustworthiness of their source. Other goals of publishing content could be: to sell a product, to provide entertainment or comedy, or to persuade you towards an opinion. Some companies may try to sell a product by writing about a story where the product was used. Some websites are entertainment websites that even make fun of the news. Other websites are written by an author who believes passionately about one thing and is trying to have others join them.
Cross-check your information
Look for another trustworthy source that supports the information that you’ve found. You can do this by searching the question or topic on Google.
Remember:
Keep yourself well-informed by making sure that the things you are reading online are helping you get to the right information. If you are not sure about something that you’ve read, cross-check it with other sources. Don’t share information that you haven’t checked first.
Our sources:
Read Our other articles on Social Media and Information Online: