DON'T BE MISLED

How to Verify News in an Age of Misinformation

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In an era where information travels faster than ever-and often without filters-the average reader is one click away from being misled. Fake news no longer looks fake. It comes packaged in polished graphics, emotional headlines, edited videos, Algenerated voices, and cleverly manipulated screenshots. What makes misinformation dangerous today is not just its volume, but its believability. And in India, where digital consumption is skyrocketing, the threat has quietly woven itself into everyday life.

The truth is simple: misinformation doesn't spread because creators are always clever; it spreads because readers don't verify. This article aims to change that.

1. Pause Before You Share

Most fake news survives because people forward it instantly-out of excitement, fear, or good intentions. The first act of verification is the simplest: don't forward anything immediately, no matter how urgent or emotional it seems. Whether it's a warning, health alert, missing-person message, political claim, or celebrity rumour, wait. If something is truly important, it will appear on multiple reliable sources-not just WhatsApp.

2. Check the Source, Not the Screen shot