I’ll admit it: I’ve been Googling things that probably aren’t great for my sanity. It started with the U.S. congressional hearings on UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) and quickly spiralled into a belief that drones spotted over airbases in the UK are alien spacecraft here to warn us not to use nuclear weapons. Logical? Not really. Convincing? To me, absolutely.
Then there’s the other rabbit hole I went down—Googling symptoms of a variety of mental health disorders after a tense interaction with someone I know following a disagreement. It’s much easier to find a problem with their mental health if they disagree with my perspective, so that the next time we meet, I can convince them that their views are tainted by their insanity. Hold on—isn’t that gaslighting? Armed with hours of “research,” I’m now completely convinced this person has a mental health condition, so I’m wasting my time discussing anything with them. Done. Argument over. I am right, and they are mad.
Of course, I am joking—but I’ve seen things go that way.
The internet makes it so easy to feel right, doesn’t it?
And I’m not alone. We live in times where every debate feels like a battle, where disagreements escalate into arguments in seconds. Why? Because everyone believes they’ve got the facts on their side—my YouTube feeds are better than yours; I follow people with thousands of followers; they know their shit and are all well-qualified. Whether it’s election fraud, vaccine conspiracies, or the latest celebrity drama, we’re armed with “evidence” from the so-called experts we found online—evidence that, more often than not, confirms exactly what we already believed.
Why We’re All So Sure We’re Right
The internet doesn’t just provide information; it validates the beliefs we bring to it. Thanks to algorithms that serve us content based on what we search, click and engage with, we end up in echo chambers that reinforce our opinions.
Think the US election was rigged? You’ll find endless articles, forums, and tweets “proving” it. Believe the vaccines were part of a global depopulation plan? There’s a video for that. Heard a wild rumour about celebrities fleeing the U.S. because Donald Trump is about to expose them for links to Puff Diddy? TikTok’s got you covered. Who calls themselves Puff anyway? It’s probably some childhood thing linked to Puff the Magic Dragon.
The problem is, once you’re convinced you’re right, it’s nearly impossible to have a productive discussion with someone who disagrees. Everyone’s got their own “facts,” and without a shared reality, conversations hit a dead end. Vampire slayers hiding in Norwegian caves who are descendants of an ancient Viking clan playing death metal music revealing a blood-curdling sex fetish—yep, they are out there.
How to Fact-Check Without Falling Into a Black Hole
So, how can this cycle of confusion created by misinformation be broken? How can we avoid the trap of instant conviction and arm ourselves with real facts, rather than the ones that confirm what we want to believe?
Here’s some advice:
Start with Trusted Fact-Checking Sites
There are credible sites designed to verify rumours, conspiracy theories, and viral claims. Conspiracy theorists of course will claim that these sites are controlled by some entity motivated to control thought. I am reminded of the organisation KAOS from the sixties television series Get Smart. Back to the topic. Some of the best sites to check out fact from fiction include:
Snopes: https://www.snopes.com/ Known for debunking urban legends, conspiracy theories, and viral misinformation.
FactCheck.org: https://www.factcheck.org/ Focused on political claims, often cited for its balanced approach.
PolitiFact: https://www.politifact.com/ Famous for its “Truth-O-Meter” ratings.
Reuters Fact Check: https://www.reuters.com/fact-check
Reverse Search Images and Videos
Misinformation often spreads through images or videos taken out of context. Use tools like Google’s Reverse Image Search or TinEye to find the original source of a photo or video. It’s surprising how often a dramatic “breaking news” image turns out to be years old or from a completely different event.
Check the Source
Before sharing or believing something, look at where it came from. Is it a reputable news outlet? A random Twitter account? A website you’ve never heard of? Do a quick search on the outlet itself—if it has a history of spreading misinformation, steer clear.
Look for Primary Sources
When possible, go straight to the source. If an article claims that a politician said something outrageous, look for the full speech or interview. If there’s a scientific claim, check if it’s linked to a peer-reviewed study. Primary sources are harder to twist than third-hand interpretations.
Ask, “Who Benefits?”
Always consider the motive behind the information. Is it designed to inform you—or provoke you? Does the person or group spreading the claim stand to gain something (money, attention, political power) if you believe it?
Use Critical Thinking
This one’s not corny—it’s essential. Ask yourself:
Does this sound too good (or bad) to be true?
Is there more than one credible source backing this up?
Am I reacting emotionally because this confirms what I already believe and want to believe?
Step Away from the Screen
Step back from the screen. The internet thrives on urgency—click now, share now, believe now. Taking a moment to pause and reflect can be the difference between falling for a hoax and seeing through it. Just don’t start drinking. You will end up believing anything and sharing absolute trash.
Conclusion: An Orgy of Frivolity
The best thing to do in a digital world is reconnect with reality. The question of what reality is could be a topic on its own, and if you spend enough time online, you might start believing we’re living in a matrix. Even if that’s true, it doesn’t change Cogito, ergo sum—“I think, therefore I am”—a concept introduced by Descartes in his 1637 work Discourse on the Method.
It might not be as exciting as a pending nuclear war, an invasion by zombie aliens, or an orgy of frivolity with a wild mountain tribe. But it’s better to live grounded in evidence so we divorce fact from fiction; otherwise, we risk disappointment and living in a world of delusion.
Fact-checking doesn’t have to be a chore, and it doesn’t mean giving up your opinions. It’s about making sure those opinions are based on something real, not just the distorted reflections of an algorithm.
So before you dive headfirst into the next viral claim, take a step back. Fact-check it. Question it. And most importantly, remember that being curious about the truth is always better than being convinced you already know it. Now, I am getting back to checking out if the alien sex bot robots have arrived in Brixton Town