Tips for Identifying Reliable Sources Examine the source of the information. If it is being shared by friends or family members, exercise caution unless the information comes from a person who was present or a recognized expert. Keep in mind that a verified check mark or celebrity status does not guarantee the trustworthiness of an account. Many political pundits and popular internet personalities frequently share false information, so it is important to approach each post skeptically. Advertisement If the account sharing the content is not the original source, investigate where it originated. Search for the original Facebook, YouTube, or social media account that first shared the content. If you cannot determine its origin, consider it a warning sign.

Be cautious when it comes to screenshots, as they can be difficult to trace back to the original source. When evaluating individual accounts, take note of the account creation date, which is usually mentioned in the profile. Be wary of very new accounts (created in the past few months) or those with only a few followers. For websites, you can use Google to find out when they were created. Search for the name of the site and click on the three vertical dots beside the URL in the search results to see when it was indexed by the search engine. Don't overlook the basics: conduct a Google search for the person or organization's name.