How to avoid misleading and fake news and information on social media

Think about who would benefit from spreading confusing information during a news event, and brush up on specific narratives going around. Do not hit that share button. Assume everything is suspect until you confirm its authenticity. Look at who is sharing the information. If it's from friends or family members, don't trust the posts unless they are personally on the ground or a confirmed expert. Trust the professionals. Legitimate mainstream news organizations are built to vet these things for you, and often do report on the same videos or photos taken by real people after they've confirmed their origin. Keep an eye out for content warnings on social media sites for individual posts, which can appear as labels below links or as warnings before you post something that could be misleading. HOW TO SPOT A FAKE VIDEO: Watch for large gaps in time, unexplained transitions or an abrupt edit in the video. Look for notable signs like blurriness in the foreground or background, pixelation, changes in color, or slower or quicker movements that don't match normal human behavior. Listen for edited audio, including cutoff speech, sound that's warped or modulated and speech that sounds slower or faster. HOW TO FIND THE ORIGINAL VIDEO: Review recent posts on the alleged uploader's account to determine if they were at the event in question. Search through news reports and social media platforms to find more information about the event and look for other videos of the same moment.

How to avoid misleading and fake news and information on social media

From hyped up television broadcasts to fake news websites, unreliable news sources have become a global concern. It might take some time and critical thinking, but there are plenty of ways to spot fake news or posts on social media.