AS THE world is confronting the coronavirus outbreak, it’s also fighting against the spread of fake news.

WhatsApp and Facebook are two platforms that have been at the centre of fake news scandals in recent times. In a bid to stem the tide of disinformation around COVID-19 shared via WhatsApp, the app has introduced new restrictions on forwarding on messages.

App users who receive a message that has been forwarded more than five times will only be able to send it on to one chat at a time.

While tech giants are being urged to do more to limit the spread of fake news, which can have hugely detrimental consequences, there are several things that everyone can do to work to ensure they’re not part of the problem.

Here are five questions to ask before you like, comment or share information online.

1. Do you know and trust the source of the information?

The first thing you should do when you receive information that you’re unsure about it or that you intend to share is to look at the publication or website that the information has originated from.

In some cases, fake news can be created using authentic footage or material from the past that’s placed out of context to convince readers it’s related to current events.

Check that the information is coming from a reputable source known for producing accurate content. If the organisation is unfamiliar, check out the “about” section for more details.

2. Did you read beyond the headline?

Click-bait, the use of a sensational headline that entices readers to click on the link to a specific article, webpage or piece of content, often goes hand-in-hand with fake news. This is why it’s important to read more than just the headline so that you’re better informed about the claims the information is purporting and can gain a fuller picture.

3. Have you checked the facts?

Just because something sounds plausible, it doesn’t mean it’s true. There are several ways that you can fact check information you come across to ascertain whether it can be trusted or not.

Fact-checking websites

Fake news works hard but so do fact-checkers. Full Fact, Snopes and Channel 4’s Fact Check are just three sites that are dedicated to myth-busting and the fight against fake news.

Trusted sources

You can always use other reliable news and information sources to double check if what you’re seeing is true. If the story is as sensational as it’s made out to be, it will be reported by a number of authentic sources.

4. Has the image been retouched?

Image manipulation is common with fake news stories. Take a look at the image or footage that accompanies the information you’re analysing to see whether they could have been retouched or re-edited.

It’s also important to be aware that sometimes authentic images can be used out of context.

5. Are there any errors?

Sometimes fake news is spread via outlets which attempt to masquerade as trusted sources so check for spelling mistakes in the publication name, url or social media handles.

If the information is not hosted on a website, check for spelling mistakes or obvious grammatical errors, these can be a giveaway.