Misinformation has been a human problem from the start, from causal gossip to large-scale propaganda, but it has seen exponential growth in recent years. Although it is an incredible tool for connection, social media has allowed false information to spread like wildfire globally.

Navigating this new world as a business owner can be especially daunting. In order to build brand trust and provide your audience with valuable content, it’s particularly important to ensure that you are sharing accurate information. In today’s blog, we break down how to evaluate validity before you share an article, fact or photo with your audience!

5 tips for evaluating post validity on social media

#1. Be skeptical

Making a snap decision to share without fully investigating a post could lead not only to the spread of dangerous misinformation but also to your clients losing trust in your brand.

Approach each post you are thinking of sharing with a mentality of skepticism and curiosity. Read over the entire article, not just the headline. Stop and ask yourself, ”How will my audience benefit from this information? Does it feel right? What does the person who shared want me to believe about the world? Does this information seem balanced and informative?”

If any of these answers are concerning, it’s time for more digging!

#2. Inspect their profile

Beware of bots! Sometimes, the “creator” is actually a robot intended to spread an idea that suits their creator’s agenda. Look at their profile picture — does it seem real? Does it strike you as a legit account?

If something feels off, take a second to investigate further. Do they post at all times, day and night? Was this account recently created? Who follows them? If any of these answers are suspicious, don’t share their content!

#3. Google it!

One of the fastest ways to disprove a fact is with a good old-fashioned Google search. Search the topic in question to see if there is any corroborating evidence online.

If it’s an image post, use Google’s reverse image search feature to investigate where the image has appeared online before. You may find the original context of an image is very different. If a quote promotes a strong emotional response or includes a shocking statistic, search to see what was actually said in context, and if it was spoken by the person it was credited to. If the information is from a news source, search their reputation online to see if they are credible.

#4. Check the date

When was this posted? This is especially important if you are using this information to promote a product or service, or to back up a claim. Be certain that it’s up to date and accurate.

Use articles posted in the last three years from verifiable sources. For more sensitive topics, such as a product or service pertaining to a customer’s health and wellbeing, share articles and facts that contain reference sources, and check the dates of the sourced articles as well to make sure that the author was referencing up to date information.

What was relevant 5 years ago may not be true today!

#5. Look at the URL

Sometimes, articles and posts are made to look like they are from reputable sources, but are really manipulated images. Open the link and check the URL to verify the source. If it isn’t an institution you recognize, or the names simply don;t align, it may be a fake.

Social media management is a fantastic tool for providing your clients valuable information while increasing your own brand awareness, but it also carries the risk of spreading misinformation. Taking the time to double-check each post will ensure that your reputation stays intact and you are providing the highest-quality information to your audience each and every time!

If you aren’t sure about a post after careful investigation, reach out to your social media manager for advice!

About the author

Hannah Call began her career at Madwire as a Project Manager and has now found her passion in the Social Media department. She is passionate about helping small businesses reach their communities through great content. On her off time, she enjoys riding her horses on the ranch where she lives with her husband and two dogs.