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Unmask Misinformation

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 Found some health information and not sure if it’s true?

Work out if you can trust it by using the Misinformation Unmasked strategy.

Image: the Misinformation UnMASKED strategy: Feeling Unsure? Is media manipulated? What's their agenda? Grab a sidekick Do they have expert knowledge? Where's the evidence? Out of Date?

 Un – Unsure

  • Listen to your senses! If something about a post or article makes you feel unsure, it might be misinformation.

M – Manipulated

  • Blurred background? Weird wording? Poor lighting. Videos, articles and images … they can all be manipulated to create misinformation.

A – Agenda

  • Health info should put the inform in information. But misinformation usually has a secret agenda.

S – Sidekick

  • When checking for misinformation, two heads are better than one. Check with a friend or ask library staff if you see something you’re not sure is right.

K – Knowledge

  • If someone’s making bold health claims, ask yourself “What is their knowledge based on? Are they an expert?” Find out their qualifications and if they can be trusted.

E – Evidence

  • Anyone can claim anything online. To check if a post or article is trustworthy, check if it’s backed up by evidence and research.

D – Date

  • Misinformation recycles old information and posts, that may not be true anymore. To check for misinformation, make sure you check the date.


Find out more and discover tips for unmasking misinformation at: https://library.nhs.uk/health-information/

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