Am I reading reliable information – or being misled by disinformation, often called fake news? Which sources can I actually trust? Mistakes in reporting or incomplete coverage have always existed. But in times of crisis, disinformation and conspiracy theories spread particularly fast – especially on social media and messenger services.
Recognizing disinformation and conspiracy theories isn’t always easy. Not only texts, but also images and videos can be manipulated – often so subtly that a quick look or click is not enough to spot it.That’s why it’s so important to avoid sharing questionable content without thinking. These tips will help you recognize and respond to misleading or false information:
Are sensational headlines and posts just there to trigger emotions and grab attention—to drive clicks and likes? Remember: if something sounds highly unlikely, it usually is.
Where do the cited sources and “evidence” come from? And beware of so-called experts. Conspiracy narratives often quote people with titles like “Professor” or “Doctor,” whether or not they have relevant expertise.
Who is behind the message? Is the account trustworthy—or is it a fake profile or a social bot with few followers? That’s a strong sign the content isn’t genuine.
Use search engines to find more details—such as the date, the original source, and the wider context of the claim.
Is the story also reported by reputable news outlets, or only on social media? If no one else is covering it, treat it with caution.
With the sheer volume and also the sophistication of fake news, it isn’t always easy to judge information correctly. That’s where fact-checkers can help. These services aim to debunk deliberately spread falsehoods—for example, by showing where false sources have been cited or images taken out of context. The process of exposing disinformation is called debunking.
You can find such fact-checkers on the following websites, some of which are also directly available via messenger services:
