How to Recognise & Avoid Misinformation Online
By The Primary Health Awareness Trust
In today’s digital world, information spreads faster than ever — and not all of it is true. From miracle cures to scary headlines, misinformation can cause confusion, anxiety, and even harm.
But here’s the good news: with a few simple skills, you can learn to spot the fakes, trust the facts, and protect your digital wellbeing.
What Is Misinformation?
Misinformation is false or misleading information. Sometimes it’s shared on purpose (to sell something or cause fear), but often it’s shared by people who simply didn’t know it was wrong.
It can show up in many forms:
- Health myths (e.g. “cinnamon cures diabetes”)
- Scary headlines designed to get clicks
- Fake quotes or made-up statistics
- Videos that are edited out of context
How to Spot a Dubious Story
Ask yourself these questions:
- Where did this come from? Is it a trusted site like NHS.uk or Age UK?
- Is it trying to scare or pressure me? Misinformation often plays on fear or urgency.
- Does it seem too good to be true? “Cure cancer in 3 days” — probably not.
- Are there spelling or grammar mistakes? These are red flags.
Fact-Checking Tools You Can Use
You don’t have to “know everything” — just know where to look:
- FullFact.org – A UK-based charity that checks news stories
- Snopes.com – Great for checking viral stories or claims
- Use Google + the word “myth” to investigate any health claim
Examples: What’s Real vs What’s Rubbish?
| Likely to Be True | Likely to Be False |
|---|---|
| “The NHS offers free flu jabs for over-65s” | “Flu jab causes dementia” |
| “Walking 30 minutes a day helps heart health” | “One pill burns fat overnight” |
| “Check http://www.gov.uk for pension updates” | “Click this link now or lose your pension!” |
Search Wisely and Slowly
Before sharing or acting on something online:
- Pause and breathe. If it feels urgent, it’s probably trying to trick you.
- Search the topic plus the word “myth”, “scam”, or “review” to see what comes up
- Ask someone you trust or join our Digital Confidence Drop-In for help
This Is Cognitive Resilience in Action
Spotting fake information isn’t just a safety skill — it strengthens your brain. Every time you question, reflect, or fact-check, you’re building cognitive resilience.
This mental strength helps protect your wellbeing, reduce anxiety, and keep you feeling empowered — even in a fast-changing world. Explore more in our Cognitive Resilience Hub.
Next Up: AI and You
In Blog 7, we’ll gently introduce artificial intelligence (AI) and how voice assistants like Siri or Alexa can help you stay safe, organised, and informed — with confidence, not fear.
➡ Read Blog 7: Understanding AI and Digital Assistants