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Internet safety · Basic

Social media: check before sharing

Recognise misleading content and check the origin of images and claims.

Pause first

An alarming or highly emotional post may be designed to encourage quick sharing. The number of likes does not prove a story is true.

How to check

• Look for the author and date. An old story or image can be presented as current.
• Read beyond the headline and look for the same information in independent, official sources.
• Be wary of miracle cures, urgent requests for money and messages saying “share before this is deleted”.
• If you cannot verify it, do not share it. Correct your own post if you discover it was wrong.

Example: an image of an event may be from another country or year. Look for its origin and compare the description with trustworthy sources before forwarding it.

Source

European Commission Code of Conduct on Disinformation.

The information on this portal is educational. For health matters, always check guidance with a healthcare professional.