How to spot disinformation

More than 60% of adults think that they see false or misleading information online every week. It can sometimes feel like disinformation is everywhere, which makes it easy to spot. But the really insidious and effective disinformation hides in the digital noise.

This makes it hard to keep up with the news that matters.

So, what can you do? Here are a few simple tips for spotting disinformation and fake news online.

Develop a critical thinking mindset. It’s easier than you think!

One of the reasons why disinformation and fake news is such a problem is that it’s easy for the reader to get caught out.

Much of it is written to create shock or outrage because it’s more likely to be read.

This is why it’s so important to keep your emotions in check when you read a story. Instead, approach what you see and hear rationally and critically.

Ask yourself:

• Is it difficult to separate facts from opinions?
• Does it fail to cite experts from reputable organisations?
• Is the original source of the information clear?
• Does it confirm your beliefs, or play on your emotions?
• Does the source sharing the information have a stake in the claim?
• Does it scapegoat people or groups?
• Exercising your critical muscles is a quick and easy way to spot the fact from the fiction.

Check the sources

If you follow us on social media, you’ll already know this. When claims are made, verify the source and decide for yourself whether you consider the source to be legitimate. By checking sources, you can get right to the issue and ignore the echo chamber that surrounds the news.

3 tips for checking sources

1. Be alert for deepfakes
   Look out for deep fake red flags. A simple face swap may not alter the subject’s neck, fingers, or hair. Body movements may look unnatural and the video may be blurred or flickering.
2. Don’t trust screenshots
   It’s easy to change web page screen shots – even for major reputable news media sites. A screenshot without a link to the original story should be treated with suspicion.
3. Reverse Image Search
   A Reverse Image Search is a quick and easy way to check whether an image has been used elsewhere. You may discover the age of the picture and whether it’s been manipulated.

Check the author/site

Some news sources may look legitimate, but are proven to amplify disinformation. That’s why even official-looking news sites should be looked at critically.

Spotting unreliable sites

5 signs that you have an unreliable news site:

• Statements aren’t supported by peer-reviewed science
• It only presents one side of the story
• It treats individuals with different views with scorn
• It’s hard to discern facts from opinions
• The source’s ideological or policy position is hidden

See who else is reporting the story

If you’re only seeing a story in one place, it’s more likely to be disinformation. If a story is widely reported, whether positively or negatively, it’s more likely to be true.

Avoid leaping to the conclusion that all mainstream media is fake. This can be as unwise as believing every rumour or theory at face value. Professional global news agencies have rigorous guidelines for fact-checking and reporting, so they’re a good place to start. But remember, no one is unbiased, and anyone can make a mistake, so keep an open mind.

Check the facts

Credible news is supported by facts. If there aren’t any, you need to ask yourself why. Misinformation can often include false data, incorrect dates or timelines. So, it’s a good idea to check when the article was published and what the quoted data really says.

• Use fact-checking sites

If you’re still unsure about whether something is disinformation, check the fact-checkers. Sites like Stop Fals and Veridica don’t just highlight fake stories, but show you why they should be considered fake.

• If it’s too good to be true, it probably is

At the end of the day, use your common sense. If something you read just “feels” wrong, it’s worth looking into to check that it’s real.

Spotting disinformation is hard and time-consuming

And that’s the problem. It’s getting harder and harder to discover what’s real and what’s not online. Every day, disinformation techniques get more sophisticated. Disinformation disseminators rely on the fact that everyone is too busy and there’s too much going on for people to spend the time double-checking something.

But that’s why it’s so important to try. And if you don’t have time to check, at the very least, don’t share something that you haven’t verified.