Fake News or Fact: how to tell

Conspiracy theories, false information, photo-shopped images and ‘deep fakes’… as AI usage spreads, so does the fake news.

Trying to work out fact from fiction is increasingly difficult, especially when world leaders have repeated inaccuracies to their millions of followers.

Social media giants like X (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) are now relying on ‘community notes’, user-generated clarifications - rather than professional fact-checkers. This approach is designed to encourage wider participation, but it has raised concerns about bias, misinformation, and the influence of organised groups.

So, spotting fake news is getting harder than ever.

Chris McNab, headteacher at Overton Grange School, has spent years educating young people on critical thinking, equipping students with the tools to question information and spot misinformation in an increasingly digital world.

He said: “In schools, we often advise students to be mindful of their digital footprint when sharing views publicly. However, I believe we must also guide our young people to consider the reliability of the information that they are bombarded with every day.”

Here he shares his six top tips for identifying when we’re being fed fake news:

1. Where did the information come from?

Look at the publication or site and check-out its other stories. Does it seem credible, or is there other dodgy or exaggerated content on the site? The source is often the first clue as to whether news can be trusted.

2. Is it current?

Sometimes an old story resurfaces and is reshared as though it’s ‘breaking news’. Always check the date to ensure the information is current.

3. Look closer

Check if other credible news outlets are covering the same story. If it’s only being reported by obscure or unverified sources, that’s a ‘red flag’.

4. What’s underneath the headline?

Some websites use ‘click-bait’ headlines as a way to encourage you to ‘click’ on the story. The actual story may bear no resemblance to its headline.

5. Research the author

If the article has a writer’s byline – research them, check out their social media accounts and other articles they’ve written, and consider whether they might have a hidden agenda or a particular line to push.

6. Check the facts

There are some great fact-checking websites such as: https://fullfact.org and https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ to use when you’re really not sure about a story.