The document titled "Fact-checking and Social Media Verification in 2025 with Adut Angelina" focuses on enhancing the capacity of participants in the field of fact-checking. It covers essential training objectives, which include understanding various fact-checking tools, managing mis/disinformation in digital spaces, and differentiating between misinformation, disinformation, and malformation. It also discusses the common tactics utilized by those spreading false information and provides a foundational understanding of social media verification.

1. Fact-checking and
Social Media
Verification

2. Content
Introduction to information
disorder
Overview of fact-checking
Fact-checking tools
Basics of social media
verification

3. Training objectives
• To build the capacity of the participants in fact-
checking.
• To understand various fact-checking tools.
• To give understanding on how to manage
mis/disinformation on digital space.
• Difference between mis/disinformation and
malformation.
• Common tactics used by dis/misinformation
actors.
• Learning social media verification basics.

4. Information disorder refers to the sharing or
development of false information, which can be
categorized as misinformation, disinformation
and malinformation.
Introduction to
information
disorder

5. false information that is not created with
the intention of causing harm. An example
would be sharing a rumor that something
has happened, before finding out its
actually false. It can be categories as
misinformation unintentional mistakes,
such as inaccurate photo captions, dates,
statistics or when satire is taken seriously.
Misinformation

6. false content that is intentionally created to cause harm, often
motivated by financial, political or psychological factor.
Misleading piece of information spread with the intention to
deceive. It can appear in the form of the fabricated or
deliberately manipulated audio/ visual content, intentionally
created conspiracy theories or rumors spread to harm or cause
distrust. Example: when people in power share only selected
piece of information together with their biased commentary,
which distort reality
Disinformation

7. It is based on reality but used to inflict harm
on individuals, social groups, organizations, or
countries
It is deliberate publication of private
information for personal, corporate or
political, rather than public interest, such as
leaking certain emails hacked in order to
damage someone’s reputation.
Misinformation

9. Click bait headline
A sensationalized and attention- grabbing title designed to entice
readers to click on link, often appealing to their emotion and curiosity.
Manipulated images
An altered or modified photograph or digital image to achieve a desired
result.
Bots and trolls
Bot is an automated social media account run by an algorithm, rather
than a real person
Troll is real user who intentionally initiates online conflict or offends
other users to distract and sow divisions by posting inflammatory or off-
topic posts in an online community or social network.
Common tactics

10. Verification using the user model
To check the authenticity of the massages:
Understanding
Upon receiving a message think about its background and the
meaning.
Search
Trace the source of the massage and verify its credibility
Evaluation
Assess the impact of using the massage
Response
Understand our responsibilities when responding to the massage

11. ➢ How to perform “fact-checking”, visit fact-checking organizations’ websites and
choose credible media.
➢ Journalists should check a wide range of information sources, learn about and
compare the information from different sources.
➢ Especially for major news adopting the “two-source rule”, perform a cross-
reference to verify the information and minimise the possibility of being misled.
➢ To avoid the “echo chamber” effect (i.e. an individual obtains highly similar
information), journalists must receive information and views from different
stance and check the credibility and quality of information.
➢ This can give us a more comprehensive and accurate view of the matter. We must
always remain cautious and reflective, maintain our objectivity and think
critically.
FACT-CHECKING
To verify the factuality of specific information

12. AUTHENTICITY OF INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Steps for verification:
1. Check the URL;
2. Check the date of issue;
3. Find out the source of information;
4. Compare the same content from other information
sources;
5. Check whether the title and content are consistent;
6. Find out whether the evidence in the information is
sufficient and reasonable;
7. Reflect on yourself if you agree with the information
based on your personal preference.

13. FACT-CHECKING TOOLS
Search engines for checking the authenticity of online information:
1. www.reverseimagesearch.org
2. www.who.is
3. www.virustotal.com
4. www.hunter.io
5. https://webparanoid.com/en/check-website#/
6. https://www.scamadviser.com/
7. https://archive.org/web/
8. https://archive.is/

14. REMEMBER!
CARE BEFORE YOU SHARE!
1. Name It to Tame It!
2. Take responsibility. Know that YOU are the
information gatekeeper. Don’t spread
dis/misinformation!
3. Acknowledge what you may not know.
4. If you have time, check it out! Do what you can to
verify information.
5. If you’re still not sure it’s true, don’t share it

15. Thank You
Questions, Observations, Objections
Angelina Adut Akech
angelinaadutakech@gmail.com
+211929028104