How to Fact-Check Social Media Posts Step-by-Step

Have you ever seen something on social media that was so incredibly outrageous that it stopped you in your scrolling tracks and made you ask yourself, “How do I know that’s real?” 

With the rise of AI, there are several examples of AI hallucinations (when AI generated incorrect or false information). So, if you’ve ever wanted to know how to go about fact-checking social media, let this step-by-step guide walk you through the fact-checking process so that you can better identify what’s real and what’s fake. 

Step 1: First, Consider the Source

The first step in fact checking social media is to look carefully at the source. 

• Examine follower count.
• Compare previous posts to see what kind of material they’ve published before.
• Check if they share their expertise on the topic. Do they include academic or professional credentials or past publications?
• Look for verification badges, like blue checkmarks, on trusted accounts to confirm that the owner of the account is who they claim to be. 

Step 2: Next, Examine the Claim

Look at the entire post carefully and ask questions:

• Does it read as something that’s too good to be true? 
• Does it lack supporting details? 
• Have you heard this same claim elsewhere from reputable news or business websites? 

Misinformation and fake news often appear with clickbait-stye headlines like “You Won’t Believe What Happened Next!” 

Some sensationalist posts try to sow discord and division with “Us versus Them” style posts that vilify one side or the other by saying things like “The REAL Truth They Don’t Want You To Know!” Likewise, posts that promise miraculous or unbelievable results without substantial evidence are often engineered for clicks and comments.

Step 3: Cross-Reference with Reliable Sources

There are several ways to cross-reference whether a social media post comes from a reliable source.

Fact-checking websites

One of the fastest ways to fact-check social media is to cross reference the statement or claim with trusted news outlets or established, reputable fact-checking websites such as PolitiFact or FactCheck.org.

Many fact-checking websites will also let you search their archives for previously searched facts accompanied by articles with other cited and trusted sources. 

For more insight, read our guide on the best fact-checking sites. 

Official statements

It’s also a good idea to look for any statements from official government organizations or other reputable groups related to the topic.

Use an automated fact-checker

You can also use an AI fact checker to check information in real-time. With the Originality.ai fact checker, you can copy and paste text from a document or verify content from a URL. Then, after scanning the facts, you can review them with a report that includes additional context and sources.

Evaluate the sources

If a claim includes sources, it’s a good idea to evaluate those sources as well. Ideally, a provable claim will come with primary sources of information. 

Primary sources are original, uninterpreted sources that come directly from the event, place, or person involved. They include: 

• Historical documents, like letters, diaries, official records, videos, or photos from the timeframe in question.
• Scientific research, including original research articles, patents, clinical studies, and experiments.
• Legal documents, like court records, treaties, and legislative documents.
• Interviews and surveys or transcripts of interviews or oral histories.
• Any physical objects, architecture, or artwork made in a specific timeframe.

Contrast this first-hand information with secondary sources. Secondary sources include: 

• An interpretation or analysis of a primary source.
• Information compiled and collected from several different primary sources.
• Commentaries and critiques.
• Documentaries, encyclopedias, and research database summaries.
• Analytical reports and policy briefs.

Secondary sources may provide additional context or understanding but may also include an author’s inherent bias or opinions. That’s why it’s a good idea to combine the raw information from the primary source with interpretations and analyses from secondary sources to get the full picture.

Step 4: Analyze Images

If you’re concerned about a particularly realistic-looking image, you can verify its authenticity. Doing a reverse image search via Google will tell you if that image has appeared previously somewhere else (within Google’s search results). This is a helpful starting point for conducting additional research.

Step 5: Check the Metadata

Metadata is like the “footprint” of a given image, web page, video, or document. Depending on the file being analyzed, it can tell you where a picture was taken, when, by whom, the settings of the device, and so on. Think of it as a “snapshot” of the origin and authenticity of the file. 

Different types of files generate different types of metadata. Adobe notes that for photos, this includes Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) data, which can include:

• Date and time a photo was taken.
• Camera model (or settings).
• GPS coordinates or location where the image was taken. 

Some users remove this data before sharing posts to protect privacy. Adobe’s guide on EXIF data also notes that certain social platforms, like Facebook, remove this data.

Step 6: Consult Subject Matter Experts

Claims on social media can start and spread so fast that even news and other trusted organizations may struggle to keep up. In this case, reaching out to a subject matter expert is beneficial.

Experts often have in-depth knowledge and several years of experience in their field. This background expertise may help them discern fact from fiction. They may also be able to provide valuable context surrounding a claim, such as its historical background or scientific origin (things that images or sensationalist posts often lack). 

Step 7: Look for Logical Fallacies and Bias

Fact-checking social media also involves looking at posts from a critical point of view. Certain types of posts are designed to elicit reactions, including: 

• Strawman arguments: where a point of view is misrepresented so that it can be refuted easily.
• Hasty generalizations: posts that jump to conclusions without enough evidence.
• False equivalencies: posts that rely on faulty comparisons to make their point.

When evaluating the authenticity and veracity of information on social media, looking for bias is also a smart strategy. When people post emotionally charged content, are selective in the facts they present, or they completely remove relevant information, it’s more likely the post is trying to sway opinion and elicit an emotional response instead of a balanced debate or discussion. 

It’s also worth looking behind the post at the source. Who is the author, and what would they gain from promoting that particular point of view? 

Step 8: Consider the Impact

Fact checking social media posts isn’t just about analyzing the material you come across as you scroll. It’s also about considering the impact of shared posts.

When misinformation is shared, it can reach a much wider audience. So, fact-checking is important to ensure that information or posts that are shared on social media are accurate and verifiable.

Final Thoughts

Fact-checking and media literacy are important, and social media is no exception. It’s beneficial to take time to verify the truth and accuracy of posts before engaging or re-sharing them. Using an automated fact-checker to review content, cross-referencing information with fact-checking websites, and looking into a post’s sources are all best practices for fact-checking social media posts.