INTRODUCTION

In today’s digital world, misinformation spreads faster than ever, especially with the rise of AI-generated images, deepfake videos, and misleading online content. Fake information now travels instantly through WhatsApp, social media, news sites, and videos, and many people believe in it simply because it looks real and professional; this in turn creates serious problems. Fake news can confuse people, cause fear, damage reputations, and mislead the public during important moments such as health emergencies or elections. The main challenge is that headlines are designed to shock, images and videos can be edited easily, and messages are often forwarded without any verification. Understanding how misinformation works and knowing the right tools and simple techniques to verify content has become essential for all.

WHY FAKE NEWS SPREADS SO FAST!

Fake news travels quickly because the Internet is designed to share things instantly. Social media apps often promote posts that create strong emotions, such as fear, anger, or excitement, even if the information is not true. People also tend to forward messages without checking, especially when they appear urgent or surprising. With just one tap, a fake post can reach thousands of people in a few minutes. Emotional reactions, quick sharing, and pressure from friends or groups all adds to spreading fake information faster than real information.

Real life examples

• During public health situations, false remedies and edited videos are circulated widely, causing confusion and pain.
• Old photographs from unrelated events are often reshared as if they are recent incidents.
• Fake job offers and scholarship messages spread through WhatsApp, leading people to share personal details.

WARNING SIGNS OF FAKE INFORMATION

Most fake posts have small clues that something is “off”. They often use emotional or sensational language to attract attention. Many of them come from unknown authors or unreliable websites with no proper references. These may contain incorrect dates, missing evidence, poor-quality images, or edited media. Research from the past few years has shown that fake posts commonly include spelling mistakes, extra punctuation, strange layouts, or grammar errors. If something looks too shocking or perfect to be true, it usually takes a moment to notice these little red flags.

What is AI‑Generated Misinformation?

• Deepfake videos: AI‑created videos where faces or voices are swapped or       manipulated.
• AI‑generated images: Completely fake photos that look realistic.
• Voice cloning: AI‑generated audio that imitates a real person’s voice.

Detection Tips:

1. Identifying Fake images:

• Hands & fingers: Extra fingers, fused fingers, unnatural bends
• Faces: Asymmetrical eyes, odd teeth, blurry ears, strange skin texture
• Text: Mispelled words, warped letters, inconsistent fonts
• Lighting & shadows: Shadows going in different directions or missing entirely
• Backgrounds: Melting objects, distorted lines, inconsistent depth
• Skin Texture: It may appear too smooth, plastic-like, or overly wrinkled in certain areas

2. Identifying Fake videos:

• Face & lips: Lip-sync mismatch, delayed mouth movement
• Head & body movement: Stiff, robotic
• Eyes & blinking: Unnatural blinking rate, eyes not tracking movement
• Clothing & hair: Hair or clothes not moving naturally with motion
• Hands & gestures: Awkward hand motion, fingers changing shape mid-movement
• Resolution changes: Sudden drop in quality around face during motion

3. Identifying Fake Voices/Audio

• Repetition: Identical phrases or tones repeated unnaturally
• Background noise: Noise cuts in and out unnaturally
• Voice tone: Robotic, flat, or emotionless speech
• Pronunciation: Unnatural pauses, stressed syllables, or mispronounced words

India specific Fact-checking Resources

• FactCrescendo.com
• Factly.in
• Boomlive.in
• Youturn.in (Tamil)
• The Quint

How to Check if a Website Is Real

Real websites

• Look at the URL bar HTTPS & Padlock: Check the URL (not just http://) and a lock icon in the address bar, indicating an encrypted connection.

Authentic domain names like

• google.com
• uidai.gov.in
• gov.in

Fake websites may add extra letters or endings

• googIe.com (capital I instead of “l”)
• bbcnews.com.co
• paytm- login- secure.xyz

Check for the HTTPS + Lock symbol (shown below).

• Real sites: Secure 🔒
• Fake sites: Not Secure ⚠️

Tap the URL once

• Your phone will show the full web address; if it has strange numbers, unusual words, or spelling mistakes, it is fake.

Use these tools to check the website

• URLVoid
• VirusTotal
• WHOIS Lookup

To check photos and videos

• Google Reverse Image Search
• TinEye
• InVid

To verify news

• Alt News
• BOOM
• Factly
• Snopes
• AFP Fact Check

Whatsapp Specific Verification

To verify information and to prevent misinformation on whatsapp

1. Forwarded many times label- Long press a message to check details.
2. Verify forwarded videos or photos using reverse search or InVid.
3. Do not trust voice notes blindly–  voices can be cloned.
4. Report suspicious messages or spam directly.
5. Cross-check with official websites or trusted news outlets.

Psychology of Fake News: Why People Fall For It

Many people believe fake news because it feels right to them. It plays a major role in emotions, and when shared by friends, family, or groups they trust. Many people do not read it carefully or check the facts. When forwarded messages have been shared again and again on social media, it starts to feel familiar, so people think it must be true.

• Confirmation bias: believing what matches existing views.
• Emotional triggers: fear, anger, or excitement.
• Social pressure: trust in family or community groups.
• Urgency: pressure to act quickly.
• Familiarity: repeated exposure makes content seem true.

Further Learning & Digital Literacy Resources

Learning how to use the internet safely. These resources can help people understand online risks and how to deal with false or misleading information.

1. Google Safety Center: A real Google platform that teaches online safety, privacy protection, and secure internet use.
2. Media literacy educational resources: These are provided by schools, NGOs, governments, and trusted organisations to help people understand and evaluate online content.
3. UNESCO fact-checking guidelines: UNESCO officially provides guidance on identifying fake news, misinformation and verifying sources.
4. YouTube videos on spotting misinformation: Many trusted educators, journalists, and organisations publish easy-to-understand videos on this topic.
5. Bodhini: Supports parents, children, and individuals by answering common and sensitive questions about internet safety, online behaviour, and emotional health. These FAQs help people understand online risks and guide them to use the digital world in a safe and responsible way, https://www.bodhini.in/faq/

Think Twice Before Trusting What You See Online

• Photos and videos are not always reliable proof anymore due to AI and deepfake technology that can alter faces, voices, and backgrounds.
• Fake videos often have small, unnatural details such as odd blinking, strange shadows, mismatched lighting, or weird mouth movements.
• Even tiny, unnatural signs can indicate that the content has been manipulated.
• Experts recommend pausing before believing or sharing any visual content to avoid spreading false information.
• Most misinformation spreads because people share posts quickly without questioning them.
• Taking just 10 seconds to think before sharing can help stop the spread of fake news.

Before sharing, ask yourself the following questions:

• Who made this?
• Is there real proof?
• Is anything missing?
• Can I trust the source?
• Why is this being shared?
• Is it meaningful, helpful?

These tools and checks are easy for everyone to use and help prevent the spread of false information.

CONCLUSION

False information is everywhere, but spotting it does not have to be difficult. Take a moment to check where the story is coming from, look closely at the pictures, notice any spelling mistakes or strong emotions, and use simple fact-checking websites and tools to verify the information. Stop falling for fake information.  Follow the steps given above, make it a routine.  It will help you to stay safe and from being misled. The more people stay aware and double-check what they see and read, the harder it is for fake news to spread. Being careful and informed is the best way to remain safe online.

There are many more tools and information on this internet. The above blog carriers a few, that can be used to fact check but is not exhaustive on the internet. Please verify and use at your discretion.

Let’s work together to create safer online and offline spaces.

By LAKSHMI K.S

Advisory: Mr. SEBASTIAN EDASSERY

Date: 22/01/2026