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    Beginner
    2 min read 5 stepsApril 15, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Fact-Check Anything You See Online

    A simple 5-step process to verify claims, check sources, and spot misinformation before you share it.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    2 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    fact-checking
    misinformation
    fake news
    verification
    media literacy

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Search the exact claim on a fact-checking site
    2. 2.Check if major news outlets are reporting it
    3. 3.Verify the source
    4. 4.Check the image or video
    5. 5.Use the Fact-Check Toolkit
    1

    Search the exact claim on a fact-checking site

    ~15s
    Copy the main claim and paste it into Snopes (snopes.com), FactCheck.org, or PolitiFact (politifact.com). These sites have already investigated thousands of viral claims.
    2

    Check if major news outlets are reporting it

    ~15s
    Search the claim on Google News (news.google.com). If a major news story is real, multiple reputable outlets (AP, Reuters, BBC, major newspapers) will be covering it. If only one unknown blog reports it, be skeptical.
    3

    Verify the source

    ~15s
    Who published this? Click on the website name and check their "About" page. Look up the domain on mediabiasfactcheck.com to see if the source is rated as reliable.
    4

    Check the image or video

    ~15s
    If the post includes a dramatic photo or video, do a reverse image search (images.google.com, camera icon) to see if the image is old, from a different event, or manipulated.
    5

    Use the Fact-Check Toolkit

    ~15s
    Visit teksure.com/tools/fact-check-toolkit for quick access to all the best fact-checking tools, a "Can you spot the fake headline?" quiz, and a checklist of red flags for fake news.

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    Misinformation spreads faster than truth on social media. Before you believe or share something shocking you see online, take 60 seconds to verify it. Here is a simple process anyone can follow.

    The 30-second rule:

    If a headline makes you feel a strong emotion (anger, fear, outrage, excitement), that is exactly when you should pause and fact-check before sharing. Emotional manipulation is the #1 tactic of misinformation.

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    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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