Understanding what you see online
Your trusted guide to spotting, understanding and verifying misinformation online.
The digital landscape is ever‑changing, and with this comes an increase in the risk of false information being spread. This can be through a variety of means, whether it's on social media, hearsay, or other forms of information-sourcing. The spread of false information is not always done so in a malicious way, and in the digital age, it is becoming increasingly important to verify the information you consume.
We have brought together some useful resources to help you spot whether the content you're seeing is from genuine, trustworthy sources, and how to verify the facts that you see. We've also provided some information on our current projects and consultations where you can find up-to-date facts and information.
Misinformation can be used as a catch‑all term to describe the spread of false or misleading information. However, there are actually three different ways by which false information is spread. The Local Government Association defines these as:
- Misinformation: verifiably false information that is shared without an intent to mislead.
- Disinformation: verifiably false information that is shared with an intent to deceive and mislead.
- Malinformation: deliberately misleads by twisting the meaning of truthful information.
Mis/Disinformation is becoming increasingly common in online spaces, and Ofcom are currently looking into how we can address this at a National level.
With the increased use of digital forums and generative AI, spotting mis/disinformation can be difficult. If someone is claiming a fact, take steps to ensure that this is accurate:
- Check the source. A trustworthy piece of information should make it easy to see who created it, why it was created, and where the information came from.
- Look for supporting evidence. This includes data, direct quotes from experts, and links to reputable organisations and studies
- Watch out for manipulated media. Some tools have now made it easier to manipulate photos, videos, and screen shots
- Examine the language. Is it sensationalist? Does it claim urgency? If so, ask yourself why.
Find out more about how to spot mis/disinformation.
- Cross‑check information using fact‑checking sites (see Useful tools).
- Use trusted sources such as the Bath & North East Somerset Council Newsroom and E‑Connect Newsletter.
- Check the webpages of our projects for recent updates. Some of them are listed at the bottom of this page.
- Consider the intent behind the content you’re reading or being asked to share.
Algorithms decide what is shown and how often. They are optimised for engagement — not accuracy. Misinformation spreads well when posts:
- Trigger strong emotions such as anger, fear or outrage.
- Encourage comments, fast replies and reshares.
- Keep people on the platform longer or returning more often.
Coordinated actors can boost early engagement to increase visibility. Repetition across multiple sources increases belief, and algorithms amplify repeated claims.
We are aware of misinformation circulating about the following projects. For accurate details, visit the official webpages.
Seen something suspicious online?
Check before you share.