Should You Trust Your Feed?

Dylan Page calls himself the “News Daddy.” He recaps current events in clips with titles like “WW3 in 2024?!” His TikTok account has 10.5 million followers—that’s more than The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post combined.

As Page’s success shows, the way we get information is changing. Your parents’ generation turned to TV and newspapers. But more than half of teens ages 14 to 19 today get their news mainly from social media, according to a 2022 survey by the consulting firm Deloitte. 

Keeping up with news on social media is convenient and fast. But in one study, fact-checking experts found that 20 percent of TikTok’s suggested videos about major news events contained misinformation—incorrect or misleading information. (False information that is deliberately spread to confuse or deceive people is called disinformation.) 

That’s why you need to think critically about what you encounter online. Are you already a pro at telling fact from fiction? Answer the questions below to find out.

NO. Exaggerated claims and titles are often signs of disinformation. They are used because you’re less likely to question whether a claim is true when your emotions are triggered. Lisa Manganello, a school librarian who teaches media literacy at South Brunswick High School in New Jersey, suggests analyzing the language of a post before you engage with it. Does the story imply that you might be in danger if you don’t click (“Huge risk!,” “This is crazy!,” “Beware!”)? Do any words in the title seem to be steering you to support one viewpoint or feel a certain way? Most trustworthy news outlets focus on facts, not feelings, in their headlines. 

YES. Online tools make it easy for anyone to quickly create a well-designed and professional-looking account. Compelling photos, catchy music, and even talking cartoons can distract you from fuzzy facts, says Angie Drobnic Holan, director of the International Fact-Checking Network. Look beyond the flash and focus on whether a source provides evidence for its claims. For example, a post about the health effects of energy drinks should include major studies and quotes from doctors or other medical experts.