What are the best ways to verify the reliability of information sources on social media?

1 Check the source

The first step to verify the reliability of information sources on social media is to check the source. Who is the author or publisher of the information? What are their credentials, qualifications, and affiliations? Do they have a reputation for producing reliable and unbiased information? Are they transparent about their sources, methods, and motives? You can use tools such as Google Scholar, Whois, and Media Bias/Fact Check to find out more about the source and their background.

3 Check the context

The third step to verify the reliability of information sources on social media is to check the context. How does the information source fit into the broader context of the topic, issue, or event? What is the purpose, audience, and tone of the information source? How does the information source relate to other sources of information on the same or similar topics? Is the information source current, relevant, and consistent? You can use tools such as Google News, Google Trends, and Snopes to find out more about the context and the validity of the information source.

5 Check your bias

The fifth step to verify the reliability of information sources on social media is to check your bias. How do your own beliefs, values, and assumptions influence your evaluation of the information source? Are you open-minded, curious, and willing to challenge your own views? Are you aware of your own cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, availability bias, or anchoring bias? Are you motivated by truth, accuracy, and fairness, or by emotions, preferences, and agendas? You can use tools such as The Critical Thinking Toolkit, The Bias Test, and The Baloney Detection Kit to find out more about your bias and how to overcome it.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?