Real or fake? Checking information
Why false information spreads, the warning signs to look for, and five quick checks before you believe or share something.
Not everything online is true. Here's how to check. Anyone can post anything on the internet. Some of it is true, some of it is a mistake, and some of it is made up on purpose. False stories spread fast, especially on WhatsApp and social media, because people forward them without checking. Here's a typical message that gets forwarded. Let's look for warning signs. First, shouting capital letters and lots of exclamation marks. Real news doesn't need to shout. Second, an offer that sounds too good to be true. Third, a strange website address. Official government sites end in dot gov dot N G. Fourth, it rushes you with a deadline, so you don't stop to think. And fifth, it asks you to forward it. That's how false messages spread. This message is almost certainly fake. Don't click the link, and don't forward it.
Check before you share
First, ask who posted it. Is it a real news organisation, or an official account? Second, search for the story. If it's true, trusted news websites will usually be reporting it too. Third, check the date. Old stories are often shared as if they're new. Fourth, look closely at any picture. Photos can be old, from another place, or edited. And fifth, notice your feelings. False stories are often written to make you angry or scared, so you share without thinking.
New word: Fact-checker
Fact checkers are organisations whose job is to check claims, and say whether they're true. In Nigeria, Africa Check and Dubawa are two examples. You can search their websites to see if a story has been checked.
Quick check
Quick check. A forwarded message says hot water with salt cures malaria. What should you do? Check trusted health sources, like a hospital or the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and ask a doctor. Never swap real medicine for a forwarded tip. Options: Forward it to your family quickly; Check trusted health sources and ask a doctor; Try it instead of medicine; Ignore all health advice.
Recap
Remember, anyone can post anything online. Watch for warning signs like shouting, offers that are too good to be true, and rushing you. Check who posted it, and search for the story on trusted news sites. And when in doubt, don't share it.
Key points
- Anyone can post online, so false stories are common and spread quickly through forwarding.
- Warning signs: shouting, offers that sound too good to be true, strange web addresses, deadlines, and requests to forward.
- Before sharing, check who posted it, search for it on trusted news sites, check the date and look closely at pictures.
- Fact-checkers like Africa Check and Dubawa check claims. When in doubt, don't share.
Try it: Real or fake?
Decide what to do with each story.