Photograph by David Avazzadeh / Connected Archives
Words by Daphne Chouliaraki Milner
During his first term as president, Donald J. Trump told the people of the United States to “remember what you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening.” During his second term, that statement may actually be true.
Meta, the conglomerate that operates Facebook and Instagram, earlier this month announced the elimination of U.S.-based fact-checkers to “dramatically reduce the amount of censorship” on the platforms and promote free speech, according to a video message from Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s founder and chief executive. The decision was made public just weeks before Trump returned to the White House, alongside news that the tech giant will recommend more political content across all its platforms.
The move, described by many as a “bow” to Trump, marks a significant consolidation of power among a small handful of men—and a major setback in the fight against disinformation online. This reality came into sharp focus at Trump’s inauguration, where he was flanked by tech billionaires Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, and Jeff Bezos.
Though Zuckerberg refused to officially endorse Trump during his campaign, the Meta chief did call Trump a “badass.” Months later, Meta donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund and promoted Trump-affiliated lobbyist Joel Kaplan to head of global policy. Now, Meta’s rollback of content moderation signals another attempt to curry favor with Trump, helping legitimize the fake news industrial complex that fueled Trump’s return to power. Driving the pro-MAGA social parade is Elon Musk, owner of X, who turned the platform formerly known as Twitter into a right-wing echo chamber despite claims he would retain the platform’s political neutrality. Changes to X since Musk took ownership of the platform have reportedly amplified right-wing and far-right users and posts. Misinformation has soared, with an EU official describing X as the biggest source of fake news and disinformation of all social media platforms.
“People see [the rollback of fact-checking initiatives] as really hurtful because somebody who does not believe in facts, who attacks free speech, who attacks journalists [has stepped] into the White House,” said Wudan Yan, founder of fact-checking agency, Factual. “We’re seeing billionaires bending their policies to make lies more permissible and spread more readily. That’s really scary because not everyone can think critically about what’s presented in front of them.”
The removal of content moderation online has implications extending far beyond politics. It’s a climate justice issue, too. Prominent social media personalities can sway public opinion on climate denialism and disinformation globally, according to researchers, and many—including Andrew Tate, Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, and President Trump—already do. Climate misinformation spreads rapidly online. As wildfires tore through Los Angeles this month, posts falsely claiming there has been no discernible climate change in the Los Angeles area and that the fires were made worse by efforts to preserve natural habitats and limit urban sprawl went viral. Doctored images of the Hollywood sign on fire were also distributed widely across social media platforms. Officials at Meta—who will soon be out of a job—worked hard to check all claims and counter misinformation in real-time. But LA fires are no exception: Online conspiracy theories also flourished during hurricanes Helene and Milton last year, with some posts stating the storms were manufactured by the government using big weather machines.
Against a backdrop of ever-worsening challenges to truth and transparency, thinking critically—and checking facts—has never been more important. Here are five steps to help us all become better online fact-checkers and boost our social media literacy.
“I personally am skeptical of anything that’s going viral on social media. It’s important to remember that algorithms do not work at the speed that’s necessary for critical thinking.”
Social media is not a good source of straightforward, fact-based information. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok operate as distinct ecosystems; though these spaces are filled with valuable and informative content, they are also heavily mediated by algorithms and user accounts.
“They are not a place I would go to source or verify information, unless I’m looking for a statement that was shared by a verified account,” said editor and fact-checker Matt Mahoney. “Quotes and information get shared, amplified, and reshared, so [I’d advise] getting to the bottom of whatever tower of repackaging and republishing [to the root source]. That’s the most important thing.”
One important first step is identifying the author or owner of the post and account, and asking: Is the source an authority on this topic? If that’s not the case, it’s worth investigating further.
That usually requires getting off the platforms and onto reliable sources, whether that’s reputable media organizations, known nonprofits, think tanks, local and state government officials, research centers, or disaster relief agencies. A good first step in chasing down facts is to punch the keyword into a search engine to find the original source of the information—or, conversely, reliable information debunking the statement. Various fact-checking websites can also help. Identifying the root source of any fact or story will also help inject it with necessary nuance, something that’s often sidelined by the algorithm. “Context is really important,” said Yan. “It can [add] more information to a certain fact or [totally alter its meaning].”
In general, personal websites and blogs are less reliable than educational or governmental institutions. Trustworthy news sources will have quotes from multiple experts, studies, and on-the-ground reporting to back up claims. Scientific studies should be peer-reviewed and replicable. To confirm the voracity of a study’s claims, look up the author’s credentials, the study methodology (including sample size), the peer-review process, and whether the study’s authors have outlined funding sources and limitations of the research.
Improving our media literacy by cross-verifying information is an essential practice.
The way facts are communicated can greatly shape our understanding of the information, and different sources will use language that reflects their varying perspectives. Fact-checkers Atmos spoke with underscored that the truth is elusive and complex—and facts are regularly contested or disputed. For this reason, it’s important to embrace nuance and welcome exposure to many interpretations of the same issue for a more rounded perspective.
“In almost any scenario, an international, national, or local news organization is going to be your best bet,” Mahoney said. “In the case of the fires in California, for instance, the LA Times became a great resource [for real-time news].”
Indeed, there’s great value in identifying and regularly checking news outlets that specialize in particular topic areas or seeking out local reporting and independent news organizations to gain more accurate, in-depth coverage that is often overlooked by larger, mainstream media outlets. News aggregators are a great resource to easily view headlines and read stories from primary sources in one place.
There is no silver bullet to recognizing misinformation online. However, there are steps citizens can take to reduce the possibility of engaging with and spreading fake news.
When a quote or information is recycled and far removed from its source, it’s often a red flag. On platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and other social media, quotes are frequently decontextualized, republished, and reshared, which risks removing the quote’s true meaning or intent from how it’s perceived by users. In these instances, it’s worth taking time to track down the original source for greater clarity.
“The introduction of AI to Google Search has made fact-checking much harder. Search results are presented via AI as factual when actually it can lead to confirming facts that simply aren’t true.”
“I personally am skeptical of anything that’s going really viral on social media,” said Yan. “It’s important to remember that algorithms do not work at [the] speed that’s necessary for critical thinking.” They prioritize clicks and views, even if what’s shared bears no semblance of truth.
Deepfake images also hold subtle clues that they have been doctored. When watching and sharing video content online, it’s worth looking out for unnatural coloring, discoloration, inconsistent lighting, and misplaced shadows. The same goes for distortions, such as blurred faces or extra limbs, as well as uncanny movements. Google’s Reverse Image Search tool, which helps identify the origin of an image, is also a useful way of verifying if a photograph is fake or AI-generated.
Fact-checking has been made more challenging by the integration of AI into search engines like Google.
“Google still claims to be an unbiased or a disinterested source of information on the web,” Mahoney said. “While it’s true that Google is, or has been, one of the best ways to find information, the introduction of AI has made my job much harder. Search results are presented via AI as factual when actually it can lead to confirming facts that simply aren’t true.”
That’s because AI-driven searches, like Google’s Gemini, typically use personalization algorithms that tailor search results based on a specific user’s search history, location, or even behavior. As a result, AI search overviews can present information to users that aligns with their existing beliefs—rather than factually accurate information.
Relying on AI-driven searches also risks amplifying misinformation. That’s because search engines typically prioritize content with high engagement, even if the information is inaccurate. Users’ inability to see how sources are selected or ranked makes it even harder to cross-check details.
Where possible, it’s worth verifying that the sources shared by AI are trustworthy using the aforementioned tips for confirming reliable source material.
Taking the time to think critically about the information you encounter online is more urgent than ever. That’s especially true for the fast-paced world of social media where content is designed for quick consumption, and where visibility is determined by a post’s shareability, not its factual accuracy. For this reason, pausing to fully evaluate and understand what you’re reading is not just valuable—it’s vital.
“Truth takes time to report,” said Yan. “I would be really wary of anyone claiming anything definitive in a breaking news situation because of how fast the understanding of a situation changes. Without consulting primary sources, sources with lived experience—such as people who are on the ground—or publicly available documents, any post or article claiming knowledge is a red flag to me.”
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