Before you press the ‘Like’ button on that post, take a minute. Yes, you agree with it or think it’s funny. But have you thought about whether it is actually real? 

It’s never been easier for someone to make a piece of content, thanks to lots of new tools, including artificial intelligence. But that also means that people can make fake content really easily too.  

And with social media, it can spread very quickly. Because we tend to click first to like, share or comment, then think later.  

This has led to the rise of terms like ‘fake news’ and ‘misinformation’. Content that gets put in front of our eyes every day, but isn’t real. Sometimes it can be people having fun. In other cases it can be something more sinister, designed to trick you into giving up data or access to your profile. 

So how do you spot it? How can you keep yourself safe? Here are our top tips for spotting fake or dangerous content. 

Start With The Source 

Begin by working out where the content has come from. If it is one of your friends who has shared it, can you see where it was originally shared from? If it’s real, it’ll come from a trusted source, such as an established news company or an official organisation. 

Even if it does appear to come from a real source, check whether the source really is their page. It’s easy to copy someone’s profile and logo these days.  

If it has come from one of your friends, why not drop them a message to make sure they really did share it, and their social media hasn’t been hacked? 

Who Else Is Sharing? 

If it’s a news story you are looking at or a piece of information, are you able to find the same story or information anywhere else? 

Verifying content takes a few moments, but can help you decide whether it’s real or not. If you can’t find it anywhere else, there’s a good chance it’s fake.  

Look At The Language 

A shocking headline isn’t always a sign that content is fake. But scammers will use them to try to trick people into clicking them. Sometimes it’ll even seem like you or your friends are involved in the story.  

Check For Mistakes 

Reputable sources for news and information will usually proof what they have written and shared. It doesn’t mean mistakes won’t be there, but it is often a good way to spot what might be real and what isn’t. Then you can research if further.  

Does The Source Look Familiar? 

Is the username of the source real? Often the places who create and share fake news will have a name similar to a source you might trust, but not quite right. So instead of www.bbc.co.uk their name might be www.bbcwebsite.co.uk – it’s close, but not right. It’s easy to check whether it is correct – don’t click on the link, but search for it online.  

The same is true of emails – always look to see who sent it, and if it doesn’t look quite right, that probably means its not.