Helpful Tips for Image Verification:

Follow these tips so you’re not fooled into believing or sharing misinformation.

Look: Observe the details. If the caption says that the event depicted is happening in Miami, you shouldn’t see heavy winter coats. If you’re told that the building you’re seeing is in London, there shouldn’t be cars with license plates from U.S. states.

Look again: Take one of those details you’ve spied — a store name or a street sign — and search online to confirm its location. There may even be elements in the image — for example, a state flag in the distance — that you can zoom in on to nail down the location.

Think backward. Conduct a reverse image search. It’s particularly easy if you’re using the Chrome browser: Simply right-click on the image and choose “Search Google for Image.” You might find dozens of web-pages that include the image and confirm its origin (for example, a news service photo published by credible news outlets).

Geo-locate: You can also use Google Street View, a photographic feature that lets you virtually stroll much of the world.

***The most important step to take to know what’s real is taking the time to ask: "Is that for real?"

Information from The News Literacy Project