How to spot manipulated media

You do not need forensic software. Most manipulated media is caught by context: who posted it, where else it appears, and whether the details hold up when you zoom in.

Sharing is the amplifier. A single pause before resharing does more to slow misinformation than any detection tool currently available to the public.

• No original source, only reuploads and screen recordings
• Text in the image is warped or nonsensical
• Hands, ears, and jewelry are distorted
• The caption tells you how to feel before you have watched it

1. 1Find the earliest version of the file you can
2. 2Run a reverse image search on a frame
3. 3Read past the caption to the actual content
4. 4Wait an hour on breaking news before sharing

• The Curiosity EditLong-form essays on cyber, AI, and everyday technology.
• Career GalaxyDiscover the careers built around this exact problem.
• Government resourcesOfficial reporting and recovery links, being verified before we publish them.
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