Seven Steps for Staying Sharp Online

Memes can be funny! But they aren’t news…
The number of likes a post has doesn’t mean it’s legit.
Let’s talk emotions:
– You see a post that makes you mad, sad, etc.
– You like or reshare it.
– You realize, after posting, that it had falsehoods.

It happens, especially around triggering news events.

Pause.
Do a fact check.
Don’t share if you’re not sure.

This infographic shares seven basic tips for staying sharp as your students scroll:
1. Pause.
2. Memes aren’t news.
3. Likes and shares don’t equal credibility.
4. Take time to assess sources.
5. Get to the experts.
6. Don’t feed the trolls.
7. Steer clear of conspiratorial thinking.

Remember that credible information doesn’t ask you to trust it – it shows you why you should by clearly attributing the facts it provides to reliable sources.
This infographic was developed by the News Literacy Project with Cindy Otis, author of True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News.