1. Check the original source

Find the publisher, author, and original reporting. Be cautious when a post names no source, links only to reposts, or makes it difficult to trace a claim back to its origin.

2. Read beyond the headline

Headlines are designed to be brief. Read the full article and check whether the text actually supports the headline’s conclusion.

3. Verify the date and context

Old reporting, images, and video clips are often reshared as if they describe a new event. Check when and where the material was created, and whether relevant context is missing.

4. Check evidence and cited sources

Reliable reporting makes it possible to follow important claims to documents, data, named experts, or direct statements. Anonymous claims and screenshots without provenance deserve extra caution.

5. Look for independent reporting

For a significant claim, see whether several credible outlets or primary sources report consistent details. Repeated copies of the same unsupported post are not independent confirmation.

6. Be cautious with emotional or urgent language

Posts that demand an immediate share, promise a hidden truth, or use extreme certainty may be trying to provoke a reaction before you have time to verify the information.

7. Use Trusul to examine a suspicious claim

Trusul can help you review language patterns and available evidence signals. Treat the report as one input in your verification process, then consult primary and independent sources for important decisions.

Have a claim you want to examine?

Use the Trusul fake news detector before you trust or share it.

Open the fake news detector