Evaluating News Stories from the Web and Social Media

Pause and take a deep breath. Online stories try to create an emotional response in users to generate comments and clicks. Before making an assumption based on a headline, use the next steps to learn more about where the information came from.
Investigate the source. Google it! See what others are saying about the author or publisher. Ask yourself questions like: What is the author’s area of expertise? Or what is the author’s agenda in writing this story?
Find credible coverage. Find news sources that are transparent about how they gather information and avoid using loaded language to influence your opinion.
Trace the claim back to the original source. If there’s a picture, do a reverse image search
to find where it came from. If there’s a quote, search for its original context.
Use a fact-checker site. Sites like Politifact, factcheck.org, and Snopes provide context around viral claims and can quickly confirm whether the headline is true or not.

Remember to Take Care of Yourself

Share responsibly Even if you think a story is true, avoid sharing it until you can verify it. Ask yourself who benefits from your behavior online. Are you truly informing people, or are you simply contributing to engagement that benefits social media platforms?”
Engage with news intentionally Focus on where you can have an impact Don’t “doomscroll”; try setting limits on how often you check news and social media
Lean into your community Anxiety is compounded by feelings of powerlessness. Find ways to improve your community and build relationships, even if it seems insignificant.