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Misinformation awareness — spot it, slow it down, stop it spreading

Misinformation doesn’t always look like a scam or a lie. This guide is about staying sharp without becoming suspicious of everything.

Key takeaways

  • Misinformation often uses urgency, emotion, and certainty to bypass judgement.

  • The best move is usually to slow down: check the source before you share or escalate.

  • If content crosses the line (harmful misinformation, harassment, hate, doxxing) report it in-app.

  • Use Risk of harm only for urgent safety situations (self-harm, credible violent threats, child safety/CSE).

  • If there’s immediate danger offline, contact local emergency services first.

What misinformation can look like

Misinformation isn’t just “fake news” It can be:

  • Wrong (false claims)

  • Misleading (real facts with a false conclusion)

  • Out of context (old content reposted as “today”)

  • Manipulative (edited images, cropped quotes, selective stats)

It spreads because it pushes you to react fast:

  • “Share before it gets deleted.”

  • “They don’t want you to know this.”

  • “If you care about your family, you’ll repost.”
    That urgency is the tell.

A calm 60-second filter (before you share)

Before you repost, screenshot, or repeat a claim in a heated thread, try this:

  1. Source check
    ​    Who is saying this — a credible news outlet, an official health/government body, or “someone somewhere”?
    Is there a link to an official announcement or just a screenshot?
    ​

  2. Date and context check
    ​    When was it published? Could it be old content recycled as new?
    Is key context missing (cropped headline, no timestamp, missing location)?
    ​

  3. Evidence check
    ​    Is there a primary source (official statement, study, policy doc), or just another post repeating it?
    ​

  4. Emotion check
    ​    If it triggers instant fear, rage, or disgust, pause. That’s when misinformation spreads fastest.
    ​

How to respond without fuelling the fire

You don’t have to “win” against misinformation. The goal is to avoid amplifying it.

If it’s misleading info (but not targeted harassment)

  • Don’t repost the claim in full.

  • Ask one grounding question: “Do you have an official source for this?”

  • Share one reliable link if you have it — then move on.
    ​

If misinformation is being used to target someone

  • Don’t debate.

  • Report the content.

  • Don’t post personal info to “prove” anything; that’s how doxxing spreads.
    ​

If it’s a health or safety rumour

  • Point people to official sources (e.g., MOH/WHO), not random accounts.

  • Encourage checking before acting.

Reporting on Jodel

For guidance on reporting content and how reports are prioritised, see the Trust Hub page: Reporting content

Protect your privacy (non-negotiable)

  • Don’t share or request personal details about others on Jodel.

  • Don’t “crowdsource” someone’s identity.

  • If you believe someone is in danger offline, contact local emergency services first.

For official authority request processes, see: How Jodel handles law enforcement and official requests.

If things feel heavy

If you need support or feel overwhelmed, a directory of local organizations can be found here.

External resources

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