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How to fact-check: free tools you can use to vet possible misinformation and improve media literacy

October 8, 2024 | UGC

Regardless of one’s political persuasion, most internet users will agree: misinformation spreads rapidly across social media, news platforms, and other online sources, making it increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction. Whether it’s misleading news stories, altered images, deepfake videos or viral hoaxes, false information can have serious consequences, from shaping public opinion to influencing major decisions.

At WebPurify, we work with everyone, from small websites and start-up apps to one in seven Fortune 100 companies, to help platforms protect their users from harmful misinformation and disinformation. As online platforms face growing challenges in combating the spread of false content, individual users also struggle to sift through a constant stream of information. This makes it more important than ever to equip yourself with the right tools to verify the accuracy of what you’re reading, watching, and sharing.

Fortunately, there are many free resources available that make it easier to verify information and avoid being misled. From reverse image search engines to dedicated fact-checking websites, these resources help users authenticate news, videos, and images in just a few clicks. Whether you’re a journalist, a concerned citizen, or someone wanting to make sure you’re sharing accurate information, having these tools at your disposal is the first step toward combating misinformation.

In this article, we’ll introduce 12 free tools that will help you learn how to fact-check content and become a more discerning consumer of online media.

The challenge of moderating a world awash in misinformation

How to fact check

1. Snopes

One of the oldest and most trusted fact-checking websites, Snopes verifies urban legends, news stories, and viral content. It’s a go-to source for debunking myths, particularly those circulating on social media.

How to use it
Simply visit the website and use the search bar to type in the claim or topic you want to verify. If it’s been investigated, Snopes will show a detailed explanation of whether the claim is true, false, or somewhere in between, with supporting evidence.

2. FactCheck.org

A project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, FactCheck.org aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in US politics. It fact-checks statements by major political figures and monitors the accuracy of their claims.

How to use it
Visit the website and either browse the latest fact-checks or search for a specific claim. FactCheck.org provides an in-depth analysis, breaking down each claim and supporting it with evidence from trusted sources.

3. Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN)

Poynter’s IFCN is a global network of fact-checkers, providing guidelines and standards for fact-checking practices. It also lists fact-checking organizations that adhere to its principles, which can help users find reliable local and global fact-checking resources. For younger users, it offers a Teen Fact-Checking Network made up of high-schoolers who use social media to debunk misinformation and provide media literacy advice.

How to use it
Explore the directory of fact-checking organizations on the IFCN website. It’s a great resource for finding local fact-checkers in specific regions or languages!

4. Hoaxy

Hoaxy visualizes the spread of articles online, showing how misinformation quickly disseminates across social networks. It tracks both verified sources and unverified or fake news sites, helping users identify the origins and reach of potentially misleading information. In particular, it can identify links to stories from low-credibility sources. It also calculates a bot score that reflects the likely level of automation behind an article. It’s worth noting that Hoaxy’s knowledge base goes back to 2016.

How to use it
Type a claim, topic, or article link into Hoaxy’s search bar. It will display a graph showing how the content has been shared and discussed online, along with verified fact-checks associated with the topic.

5. InVID WeVerify

A popular browser extension, the InVID WeVerify verification tool is designed to authenticate user-generated content, especially videos and images. It helps journalists and researchers fact-check viral videos, breaking news footage, and other visual media to better detect deepfakes and manipulated content.
The plugin won a US Paris Tech challenge first prize award granted by the US Department of State’s Global Engagement Center in 2021 and has also been lauded by the Poynter Institute.

How to use it
Install and enable the browser plugin, and use it to analyze images and videos you encounter online. The tool can help detect inconsistencies in footage and compare visual content with other sources to check for manipulation

6. Politifact

Known for its “Truth-O-Meter,” Politifact evaluates the truthfulness of statements made by US politicians and public figures. It’s a valuable resource for checking the accuracy of political information. The site is available in both English and Spanish.

How to use it
Visit the website and use the search bar to look up a politician, public figure, or specific claim. Politifact will provide a detailed explanation, including the rating on its Truth-O-Meter.

7. Checkology

This educational platform teaches users how to detect misinformation. While primarily aimed at students, Checkology is a helpful resource for anyone looking to sharpen their media literacy skills.

How to use it
Sign up for free on the Checkology website and access lessons that teach you how to critically evaluate news, identify bias, and spot misinformation.

8. NewsGuard

NewsGuard is a team of journalists who review the reliability of news sources across the web and social media according to a rigid set of criteria. Its service — accessed via web dashboard, API or cloud datastream — is typically used by research institutions, technology platforms, news aggregators, artificial intelligence providers, advertising companies and news consumers. WebPurify partners with NewsGuard on certain projects where we’re helping clients tackle misinformation.

NewsGuard publishes misinformation trackers around current issues and events, which anyone can access. The trackers are regularly updated to help internet users stay informed about ongoing misinformation and disinformation campaigns.

How to use it
You can also access NewsGuard’s misinformation trackers from the Reports section of its website to stay updated on current trends in misinformation.

9. Google’s Fact Check Tools

Google’s Fact Check Tools were introduced to help users verify information across the web. It includes two main components: a fact-check explorer and a markup tool for publishers. The Fact Check Explorer allows users to search for fact-checks across a wide range of topics from credible fact-checking organizations worldwide.

How to use it
Visit Google’s Fact Check Tools page and use the search bar in the Fact Check Explorer to look up any claim or topic. The tool aggregates fact-checks from trusted sources, providing a quick way to verify the accuracy of information.

10. Google Reverse Image Search

Google Reverse Image Search allows users to upload an image or paste an image URL to find other places where that image appears online. This tool is invaluable for detecting whether an image has been altered or used out of context. For instance, if you suspect someone you’re engaging with might be lying about their identity, you can reverse image search their profile photo to see if it was lifted from somewhere else.

How to use it
Go to Google Images and click the camera icon in the search bar. You can either upload an image from your computer or paste an image URL. Google will show you where else that image appears on the web, helping you track its original source and identify if it’s been manipulated or being misrepresented.

11. TinEye

TinEye is another reverse image search tool designed for tracking image usage across the web. It’s particularly helpful for identifying edited images or finding the source of an image.

How to use it
Visit the TinEye website and upload an image or paste an image URL. TinEye will search for matches across the internet, allowing you to see how the image has been used, whether it’s been altered, or if it’s appearing on untrustworthy sites.

12. Truth Goggles – coming soon

Launched in 2011, Truth Goggles was an innovative browser extension that utilized AI to highlight suspect statements within online articles. Users could install the browser extension, and when visiting certain news websites, the tool will highlight suspect claims and provide links to fact-checks or suggest questions you should ask yourself as you read.

Truth Goggles closed down in 2013, but its founder, Daniel Schultz, is developing a 2.0 version in collaboration with Duke Reporters’ Lab, with funding from the Facebook Journalism Project.