The Washington PostThe Washington Post

How to avoid falling for and spreading misinformation online

By Heather Kelly

09 Nov 2022 · 4 min read

Editor's Note

The Washington Post provides a useful how-to guide on spotting online misinformation.

Anyone with an internet connection can watch breaking news unfold in real time, or at least some version of it. Across social media, posts can fly up faster than most fact-checkers and moderators can handle, and they're often an unpredictable mix of true, fake, out of context and even propaganda.

This kind of misinformation spikes before, during and after elections including this week's midterms. Look out for confusing narratives about everything from how to vote to who actually won specific races.

Sign in to informed

  • Curated articles from premium publishers, ad-free
  • Concise Daily Briefs with quick-read summaries
  • Read, listen, save for later, or enjoy offline
  • Enjoy personalized content
Or

LoginForm.agreeToTerms