Can you trust what you see?

The idea

Misinformation can spread fast and harm people, and AI can make or change pictures, voices and videos, so we check who made something, when, and whether trusted sources show it.

A photo is going round

A very real-looking photo of a famous bridge on fire is going round your class group. What would you do first?

• Share it, so my friends are warned
• Look closely and decide whether it looks real
• Check whether anyone else, such as a news site, shows it

Which check would catch it?

Each card shows something that may not be true. Tap the check that would catch the problem first.

The three groups are habits you can use on any message, picture or video. Tap a group. Read the reason, then press Next card.

Look, then check

Each card hid one weak spot: an unknown author, an old date, or a story that no trusted source shows. Pictures, voices and videos made or changed by AI can look completely real, so looking real is not proof.

Fake posts also play with feelings. If a post makes you angry, scared or excited and says “share now”, that is the moment to pause.

Before you believe or share, pause and check: who made it, when, and whether trusted sources show it.

Wrong or misleading information that is shared is called misinformation. AI-made fake pictures and videos are often called deepfakes.

Notes

Before you believe or share, pause and check: who made it, when, and whether trusted sources show it.

A strong feeling and a push to “share now” are signs to pause. If you are still unsure, ask a parent or teacher before you share.

Check yourself

Zoya sees a real-looking photo of her town's lake covered in pink foam, posted by a stranger. What should she do first?

A fake message says tomorrow's school bus will not run. Even if it began as a joke, why can it do harm?

A post makes Ravi very angry at a group of people. It says, “Share now before they delete it!” What is the wisest step?

• Share it straight away, in case it is a warning to others. A false warning can cause panic. Checking first takes a minute and protects everyone.
• Trust it, since a photo shows exactly what really happened. Photos can be made or changed, now even by AI. A photo is a clue, not proof.
• Check if local officials or a news site show it too — correct. Yes. If the lake really looked like that, trusted local sources would show it. Check the date too, since it may be an old photo of another lake.
• It cannot, because a joke is only meant to be harmless. A shared message does not carry the sender's joke with it. Readers cannot tell, and they act on what they read.
• Many families may believe it, and trust in notices falls — correct. Yes. False news can cause confusion in the moment and damage trust later. That is its social impact.
• Only the sender is affected, so there is no wider harm. A shared message reaches many people, and each can pass it on. The harm spreads far beyond the sender.
• Pause, then check who made it, when, and who else shows it — correct. Yes. Strong feelings and pressure to hurry are signs to slow down. If he is still unsure, he can ask a parent or teacher.
• Share it now, so his friends feel as angry as he does. Sharing spreads the anger, and maybe a falsehood. Strong feelings are a reason to slow down.
• Believe it, because posts that make you angry are usually true. Not so. Feeling angry does not show a post is true. Posts built to spread fast often aim at strong feelings, true or not.