Five ways to spot fake news

Can you spot fake news? Watch this video from Common Sense Media to learn how to check out news to see if it's true or not. It's not always easy to tell!

Instructions

Do the preparation task first. Then watch the video and do the exercises. Remember you can read the transcript at any time.

Number one: Look for unusual URLs. If they end with lo or .com.co, chances are they aren't legitimate news sites.
Number two: Dissect the layout. Look for grammatical errors, incorrect dates, bold claims with no sources and sensationalist images. These are all red flags.
Number three: Dig deeper. Find out who wrote the article and who supports the site. If this information doesn't exist or you need to register to get it, then question why.
Number four: Cross-check. Use fact-checking sites to confirm information and see whether other credible news outlets are reporting similar news.
Number five: Try a reverse image search. If the same picture appears in unrelated stories, you may have a reason to be suspicious.

For more media literacy tips, visit us at commonsense.org.