Guard against circulating fake news

In this age of fake news and misinformation, it is vital to discern what is real and what is not.

When it comes to statements issued by official bodies, there are some quick and easy ways to find out if they are true or false.

Step 1: Spell it out

Official statements from trusted organisations will not contain spelling or grammatical errors. If the statement is riddled with errors, it is unlikely to have been sent by a reputable organisation that would have checked and re-checked the piece.

Step 2: What did that say?

Outrageous or hard-to-believe claims in official statements are a potential red flag that they are fake. Also, if it sounds too good to be true, it is probably a fake.

Step 3: When in doubt, check it out

Don’t rely on the ‘official statement’. If this is a legitimate statement from a reputable organisation, check whether it has been posted on their website or shared on their social media pages.

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