How to Evaluate Online Information Before You Share It

Digital information travels quickly, but speed does not guarantee accuracy. A striking headline, polished design, or large number of social-media shares can make a claim appear trustworthy before anyone has examined its evidence. Developing a few careful habits can help readers distinguish reliable reporting from speculation, outdated material, and deliberately misleading content. Start With the Original Source The first step is to identify where a claim began. A social-media post may summarize an article, which may itself refer to a press release or an academic paper. Each step can introduce errors or remove important qualifications. Whenever ...