In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a message went viral across Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
It claimed that drinking hot salt water or inhaling steam could “kill the virus instantly.” But health authorities warned that such claims lacked scientific support and could mislead people away from safe practices.
Families still rushed to try it, many convinced it would protect them. For some, the results were harmful, and for many more, it distracted from listening to proper health advice.
Studies of misinformation in Nigeria documented widespread belief in conspiracy theories about COVID-19 including a 2022 research paper published on NCBI on COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and vaccine hesitancy, a 2022 study on NCBIon digital platforms and the COVID-19 infodemic, and a 2022 arXiv report analysing misinformation spread across African social media networks.
These ranged from claims that the disease was fake to narratives that vaccines were designed to harm citizens, showing how deeply false information shaped the information landscape.
COVID-19 realities highlight the power of misinformation. They show how easily a false claim can spread through social networks and reach many individuals quickly, and how urgently communities need tools to test information before sharing it.
The question then becomes: how can an average person spot and block falsehoods before they reach friends, family, or entire online groups?
Why fact-checking matters for everyone
Misinformation attacks can affect daily life. It can mislead people on health, influence elections, or cause panic in markets and communities. The more connected we are through phones and social media, the faster rumours travel.
Many people receive forwarded messages every day on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, or in community chat groups. Often, those messages lack sources or evidence. If someone in the group pauses to verify, the ripple effect can stop a lie from spreading.
Verifying information has become a survival skill. Fact-checking is not the work of professionals alone. Anyone with a smartphone or access to the internet can play a part in protecting family, friends, and society.
Across Africa, many depend on social media for news. In Nigeria, Code for Africa revealed that weekly news usage via WhatsApp sits around 53 per cent, compared with a global average of 19 per cent. That means many stories begin in informal networks. If people in those networks can learn to check first, harm can be reduced.
UNESCO in 2023 reported that 56 per cent of internet users frequently use social media to stay informed about current events. And two-thirds of digital content creators do not systematically verify information before sharing it. Those numbers show why fact-checking must move from experts to everyday people.
Abdourahmane Diallo, UNESCO Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Congo, has spoken about this shift. In a 2024 interview with Techpression, he said media and information literacy must equip individuals “to decrypt and navigate in this ecosystem and this new landscape with the information.”
He added that people must learn to slow down, examine a claim, and ask whether it follows logic. That skill is not for institutions only. It is for WhatsApp group admins, community leaders, youth networks, and parents.
How to spot messages that need fact-checking
Many rumours show signs that they need checking. Messages with sensational headlines, shocking statistics, or promises of quick fixes should raise suspicion. If a story comes from an anonymous source, says “forwarded many times,” or urges immediate action without evidence, it is worth pausing. A simple rule is to hold back before pressing “share.”
Tools everyone can use to check the truth
Here are tools that work with basic devices and do not require special skills to access.
Google Fact Check Explorer: Type in a claim. The tool shows verified claims by reputable fact-checking organisations. If a similar claim appears, you can check how credible its source is.
Snopes: Snopes tracks global myths, hoaxes and urban legends. You simply search for the topic or keyword. Many false dominoes begin from viral claims that Snopes has already dissected.
Africa Check: This focuses on Nigerian and regional issues. They examine political claims, health advice, and education rumours. They work in languages relevant to many people on the continent. Checking there often gives a clearer context than tools focusing on global myths.
TinEye: To verify images, upload or paste an image to TinEye. It finds its earlier appearances. With this, you can see ifthe picture comes from the claimed place or time.
InVID: This is for video verification. It breaks down video into frames. It lets you examine whether videos have been manipulated. It is good for checking videos shared on WhatsApp or Telegram.
WHO Africa Misinformation Portal (AMP): This tool tracks public health rumours. It uses inputs from field reports and online sources. It provides curated responses. Health workers and concerned citizens can use it to check dangerous health myths.
These tools are simple enough for non-technical users. The key is knowing they exist and building the habit of checking them.
Everyday fact-checking in action
Imagine receiving a WhatsApp message claiming that a local politician has resigned or that a new herbal mixture cures malaria completely. Instead of forwarding it immediately, you open Google Fact Check Explorer to search the claim. If nothing comes up, you can check Africa Check to see if they have reported on it. For photos or screenshots, you drop the image into TinEye. Within minutes, you know whether the claim has roots in reality or not.
After that quick check, you respond in the group: “I found no credible source. Let’s wait until credible agencies confirm.” You stop the share. Other people read your note and may pause too.
This process takes less time than many people spend scrolling through their timelines. Yet that small pause can stop falsehoods from reaching dozens of others.
Building a culture of truth from a personal to communal habit
Fact-checking works best when it becomes part of community life. One person checking helps, but a bigger change happens when groups adopt truth habits.
Families can ask, “Did you verify that first?” before discussing trending news. Schools can introduce students to fact-checking websites as part of digital literacy lessons. Teachers can be taught to constantly ask: Did you verify this before sharing? Faith groups and youth clubs can encourage members to slow down before spreading information that lookssuspicious.
Groups on social apps like WhatsApp and Telegram can form “factcheck admins” who volunteer to check claims and share summaries. Group moderators can refuse to forward unchecked messages. Over time, people begin to expect verification before forwarding inside their networks. When one person in a group builds a habit, it often spreads to others.
By using fact-checking tools, ordinary people help strengthen their communities. They build trust and reduce harm. This responsibility is not about technology alone; it is about creating a culture where truth is valued. When communities learn to pause and verify, they become less vulnerable to manipulation.
Why fact-checking is power
Fact-checking gives everyone power. It protects families from harm and strengthens communities against confusion. It is a simple act with a big effect, where one person who checks before sharing can save many others from making wrong decisions.
Africa has shown again and again that it can adapt quickly to challenges. In the same way people learned to use mobile money, online marketplaces, and local apps, communities can also learn the habit of fact-checking. It begins with simple steps and free tools.
A simple 5-step guide to fact-checking what you see online
- Pause before you share: If a post or message sounds too shocking, emotional, or urgent, that is a red flag. Before you forward that message, ask yourself: Have I checked it? That single question could change how information flows through your circle. Take a breath and resist the urge to forward it immediately. False news often relies on emotional reactions to spread fast.
- Check the source: Look for where the information came from. Does it mention a credible outlet such as the BBC, Reuters, or Africa Check? Be cautious of messages that say “my friend who works in the ministry said…” or that have no source at all.
- Use free verification tools: Copy a few words from the message into Google Fact Check Explorer to see if it has been verified. Use TinEye or Google Images to confirm if a photo or video has appeared elsewhere. For health topics, visit the WHO’s website or Africa Check’s Health Desk.
- Ask trusted contacts: Sometimes, the best check is human. Before you share in your WhatsApp group or Facebook timeline, ask someone you trust who understands the topic. Many community leaders, journalists, and teachers are already trained in basic fact-checking.
- Correct politely when you can: If you see a friend or family member sharing false information, ask them if they have verified the claims and explain why it’s unsafe to share such information. You can also send them a verified link instead of shaming them. This builds a habit of truth-sharing rather than blame.
Engaging in these steps consistently can grow into a strong habit that helps build safer, better-informed communities across Africa. When more people take a moment to verify before sharing, truth gains more ground than falsehood ever could.
Now, take a moment to share this article with people you care about, so they too can learn to fact-check and protect others from misinformation.