Infographic from Groundviews.org
Check your facts!
Before you hit "send" to share with others, check the validity of the content first. It is always a good idea to question your information, especially from websites, social media and the like. How credible is it? Are there other established media sources (e.g. major newspapers, magazine publications, television/streaming networks) reporting on this topic? Do you really believe it it true? Why?
There are several "fact-checking" web sites available. You still must decide on whether something is "fake" or "truthful" but having tools to help verify content should help. Here are a few suggested sources:
From the website: " a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. Monitors factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases."
From the website: "Snopes got its start in 1994, investigating urban legends, hoaxes, and folklore. As demand for reliable fact checks grew, so did Snopes. Now it’s the oldest and largest fact-checking site online, widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and readers as an invaluable research companion."
Designed for journalists to help verify "breaking news" for accuracy, but general enough for anyone to use as a guide. Several chapters on how to determine "fake news." The book is free to read online.