A headline is an invitation, not the whole story. It compresses a complicated event into a few words, and that compression can leave out uncertainty, timing, and context. A small pause before sharing can make the difference between passing along a useful story and amplifying a misunderstanding.
Start with the source
Ask who published the story, when it was published, and whether the page identifies its author. An old article can circulate as if it describes something happening today. A familiar-looking screenshot can also strip away the publication date or the surrounding corrections.
Follow the link to the original page. Is it a news report, an opinion piece, a parody, or a sponsored post? Each has a different purpose. A strong opinion is not automatically wrong, but it should not be mistaken for a report of verified facts.
Trace the central claim
Find the main claim and look for the evidence supporting it. If the story refers to a study, statement, court document, or public dataset, see whether it links to the original. The source may be more cautious than the headline, or it may describe a narrower group or time period.
Look for independent reporting, too. Multiple pages repeating the same unverified post are not the same as multiple sources independently checking a claim. When evidence is incomplete, it is reasonable to leave the question open.
Notice what is missing
Numbers are easier to understand with a denominator and a comparison. “Cases doubled” could describe an increase from one to two or from a million to two million. Ask what changed, over what period, and relative to what baseline.
Before sharing, consider whether the headline matches the article and whether you can state the claim accurately in your own words. The goal is not to become suspicious of everything; it is to give good information enough room to be understood.
For further guidance, see the International Federation of Library Associations’ guide to identifying fake news and Google’s fact-checking tools.