Protecting Yourself from Misinformation

Fast-moving news and social media cycles can make it hard to know what information to trust.  Here are a few tips to protect your mental health in the current news environment.

  • Limit your news intake. 

Don’t worry about following every news alert - when there are big developments, you will hear them.  

Develop a containing routine that works for you, such as limiting checking the headlines to a few times throughout the day, or muting commercials.  

Be especially careful about taking in news right before bed, which may disrupt your sleep.  

  • Follow credible news sources.  
The lists five factors to consider when evaluating any claim:
  • Is it authentic? Today’s technology makes it easy to manipulate and fabricate information.
  • Has it been posted or confirmed by a credible source?   Standards-based news organizations have guidelines to ensure accuracy, fairness, transparency and accountability.  But, not all sources follow these standards.
  • Is there evidence that supports the claims?
  • Is the context accurate? Some claims take quotes, photos, videos, or data from one context, and make them look like they are supporting something different.
  • Is it based on solid reasoning?
When in doubt, consult a librarian or a fact checking site, such as or .  Do not put energy toward reports that are not confirmed by multiple, reputable sources.
  • Be aware that every source has a bias. 

Everyone has their own perspective and leaning on issues - this is unavoidable.  Knowing a source’s bias allows you to think critically and make your own choices about what you believe. 

Check out to get more information about a particular news source.  Consider resources like or , which present different perspectives side by side so you can better evaluate them.

  • Confirm stories before sharing them on social media.

It’s natural to want to spread news that impacts the people we care about, but rumors gain momentum very quickly online.  This is especially true for highly emotional content.  

Consistently hearing misinformation feeds the cycle of confusion and anxiety.  Before sharing stories, make sure that they are credible (see #2).  It is better to take your time to confirm your information, rather than to rush to share something that turns out to be incorrect.