Media literacy
Verify before you share
Use this checklist when a post creates urgency, anger or fear, or when its source is unclear. A strong fact-check starts with the original claim and primary evidence.
Seven verification steps
- Identify the exact claim.Write down what can be proven or disproven. Separate facts from opinion and prediction.
- Find the original source.Check the account, domain, author, publication history and whether the source is official.
- Check the date and context.Old material is often presented as new. Confirm the location, time and surrounding events.
- Corroborate independently.Look for confirmation from primary documents or at least two credible, independent sources.
- Inspect images and video.Use reverse-image search, keyframes and metadata. Watch for synthetic audio, inconsistent light and edited captions.
- Read beyond the headline.Compare the headline with the article, quoted document and linked evidence.
- Pause before sharing.If evidence is incomplete, do not amplify the claim. Submit it for review instead.