How to Spot Fake News: A Practical Checklist for Filipino Readers

By the PH Trend Watch team · Updated October 29, 2026

False stories spread fastest in the places we trust most — family group chats, Facebook pages and short videos. Before you share a shocking headline, take thirty seconds to run through this checklist.

1. Check the source

Is the story from a news organisation you recognise, with a real website, named editors and a way to contact them? Be careful with pages that have names similar to real outlets but a slightly different spelling or web address.

2. Read past the headline

Headlines are written to get clicks. Many misleading posts have a headline that the article itself does not support. Read the full story before reacting.

3. Look for other reports

Big news is covered by many outlets. If only one unknown page is reporting something dramatic, wait. Search for the story and see whether established news organisations are reporting the same facts. On this site, every headline links to its original publisher so you can see who is reporting what.

4. Check the date

Old stories and photos are often reshared as if they were new — especially during typhoons, elections and emergencies. Check when the article was published.

5. Check photos and videos

Images can be edited or taken from a completely different event. A reverse image search (for example, Google Lens) shows where else a photo has appeared and when.

6. Watch your emotions

Fake news is designed to make you angry, scared or excited, because strong emotions make people share without checking. If a post makes you feel outraged, slow down.

7. Look for fact-checks

Independent fact-checking organisations in the Philippines regularly review viral claims. Searching the claim together with the words "fact check" often finds an answer quickly.

8. When in doubt, don't share

Sharing a false story — even to ask "is this true?" — helps it spread. If you can't verify it, don't forward it.

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