Check before you forward
Family groups are full of forwards. Some are true, some are not. Learn a quick check, and how to kindly correct a relative.
In 60 seconds
Check before you forward
Family groups are full of forwards. Some are true, some are not. Learn a quick check, and how to kindly correct a relative.
Warning signs
- It says "Forwarded many times": lots of people passed it on, but that doesn't make it true
- It says "Share before it's deleted!" or "URGENT!!!"
- It has no name of who wrote it, or says "a doctor friend said"
- It makes you very scared, very angry, or very excited
- It promises free gifts, free data or free money
The 3 questions
- 1
Who made it?
Is there a real name, news site or official source? - 2
Why was it made?
To inform? To scare? To sell? To make people fight? - 3
Who else says so?
Check trusted news sites or official fact-check pages, such as PIB Fact Check for news about the government.
How to kindly correct a relative
- "This is FAKE. Everyone knows that."
- Laughing at them in the group
- Arguing for an hour
- "Thank you for caring! I checked, and a fact-check site says this isn't true. Here's the link."
- Sending a private message if they might feel embarrassed
- Saying it once, politely, then letting it go
Watch and read more
Lab
One forward checked with the 3 questions, and a kind reply written.
The problem
With a parent, pick one forward from a family group (or a news headline) that you are not sure about.
- Answer the 3 questions: Who made it? Why? Who else says so?
- Search for it on a trusted news site or with the words "fact check".
- Decide: true, false, or not sure yet.
- If it's false, write a short, kind message you could send to the person who shared it.
You are done when
Hard questions
Try to answer before you reveal. If you can answer these, you understood the lesson.
Q1Why do false messages often spread faster than true ones?Reveal
False messages are often made to be surprising, scary or exciting, so people feel they must share them. True news is often calmer and more careful. Our feelings push us to share before we think.
Q2Why might a kind correction work better than saying "This is fake!"?Reveal
When people feel embarrassed or attacked, they often defend themselves instead of listening. A kind message shows you respect them, gives them evidence, and lets them change their mind without feeling silly.
Questions people ask
If lots of people forwarded it, isn't it probably true?
No. False messages can spread even faster than true ones because they are exciting or scary. How many times something was shared tells you nothing about whether it's true.
What is a fact check?
A fact check is when journalists or official teams look into a viral claim and explain whether it is true, false or misleading, with evidence. Searching the claim with words like "fact check" often finds one.
What if my relative gets upset when I correct them?
That can happen. Stay polite and don't argue. You can ask a parent to help. What matters is that you didn't spread it further.
Lesson test
5 questions. Get 3 right (60%) to pass and complete this lesson.