How to check a news story before you share it

A message lands in the family group chat with an alarming headline, a screenshot or a video. Sharing takes a second; debunking can take weeks. The good news is that most rumors don't survive a simple check that anyone can do.

1. Be suspicious of strong emotions

Misleading content is often designed to trigger anger, fear or excitement — feelings that lead to impulsive sharing. If the text says "share before they delete this", it's time to stop and check.

2. Read past the headline

Headlines can exaggerate or distort. Open the link and read the whole piece: often the content itself doesn't back up what the headline promises.

3. Identify the source

Who published it? Is there a known outlet, a named author, a legitimate web address? Watch out for addresses that imitate well-known sites with one letter changed or a different domain. Messages with no author and no link ("a friend who works at the hospital said…") deserve extra care.

4. Check the date

Old stories recirculate as if they were new. Something that was true years ago can be completely misleading today.

5. Look for other sources

If something big happened, several outlets will report it. Search for the subject and see whether other reliable sources confirm it. For official data and decisions, go straight to the primary source: the government agency's website, the official gazette, the company's statement.

6. Verify images and videos

Real photos can be used out of context. A reverse image search, available in the major search engines, shows where and when an image appeared before. In videos, look for details — language, street signs, weather, clothing — that point to a different place or time.

Remember too that images, audio and video can be generated or altered by artificial intelligence. Odd hands, unreadable text, imperfect lip sync or a robotic voice are clues, but their absence guarantees nothing. When in doubt, the question remains the same: who published it first, and where?

7. Check fact-checkers

Many countries have organizations dedicated to verifying rumors — in Brazil, for example, Agência Lupa, Aos Fatos and Projeto Comprova — as well as fact-checking sections at major news outlets. Often the rumor that reached you has already been analyzed.

What if it's false?

Don't share it — not even to criticize it, because that spreads it too. If it makes sense, reply politely to whoever sent it, with a link to a fact-check. And if you shared something wrong, correcting it publicly is a sign of credibility, not weakness.

A habit, not a chore

Checking doesn't require being an expert: it takes a few minutes and a willingness to doubt — especially things that confirm what we already believe. That is still the best filter there is.