Many people receive a flood of messages daily on their instant messaging apps and social media feeds. There’s always a number of people who forward information and news that can be shady in whether the news is accurate or not. Here are steps to find out: 1. Read it through This may seem obvious but it’s important to read the article till the end especially if it has an odd headline. Sometimes the title can be misleading from the text. 2. Check the link The link should belong to a reliable source or recognized media outlet. The weblink should end with .com or .net 3. Who wrote it? Check the author of the article and other articles he or she wrote. If they have a contact number or email address, it’s more likely they’re real writers. 4. Do some research Read further about the topic from other sources and websites to verify the validity of the news. If it’s not found elsewhere, it’s likely it’s fake news. 5. Numbers and statistics If numbers and statistics are used, refer to their sources. They should be by government bodies or well-known private entities 6. “Contact us” If there’s a contact link or address, that should be an indication it’s most likely a reliable source.