Use fact-checking tools
See if a fact-checker like Snopes.com has debunked the story.
Find the source
Click on the link in a social media post to take you to the original story, so you can see if it comes from a trusted source.
Verify the source
Check Google or Wikipedia to see if the source is real and whether they have a good track record.
Check other sources
Do a search to see if other news outlets are reporting the same story.
Click here for more on how to tell what’s true online
(MediaSmarts)