Fact-Checking Tools
Don't spread fake news.
Trusted fact-check sites
- Snopes.com — oldest + biggest. Searchable.
- FactCheck.org — Annenberg Public Policy Center. Nonpartisan.
- AP Fact Check — Associated Press. Just facts.
- PolitiFact — Truth-O-Meter ratings.
- Reuters Fact Check — international.
- USA Today Fact Check.
- Search any 2-3 of these to verify claims.
Reverse image search
- Save photo. Go to images.google.com. Click camera icon. Upload.
- See if image is OLD, fake, or AI-generated.
- Many viral photos = decade-old + repurposed.
- Some viral photos = AI-generated (look at hands + eyes).
Spot fake news
- ALL CAPS HEADLINES — usually fake.
- "They don't want you to know" — clickbait.
- Source you've never heard of — verify on Wikipedia.
- Story too perfectly fits your beliefs — bias trap.
- Photo with no source — could be old or fake.
- Article requires you to share to read — fake.
- "BREAKING" but no major news has it — likely fake.
Before sharing — verify
- Search Snopes + 1-2 others.
- Check date — many "new" stories are years old.
- Check if AP / Reuters has it.
- Check publication — credible?
- If in doubt — DON'T share.
- 30 seconds prevents spreading misinformation to your network.
Senior responsibility
Studies show seniors share 7x more misinformation than young people. NOT because seniors are gullible — because they're online + trust their friends. Slow down. Verify. Set example for grandkids.