AI and Spreading Stuff: Don't Share What You Didn't Check

If AI gets a fact wrong and you share it, the wrong fact spreads. Then someone else shares it, and so on. Always check before you share.

Some examples

• Look up the fact in a real book or trusted website.
• Ask a teacher or grown-up if it sounds weird.
• Skip sharing if you can't prove it.
• Add 'AI said this — I'm not 100% sure' if you do share.

Try it!

Ask AI a fun fact about animals. Then look it up online or in a book. Did it match? Now you know if it was safe to share.

How misinformation spreads and how to stop it

Misinformation spreads fastest when it's emotionally compelling and easy to share. AI can generate misinformation that checks both boxes — it can write confidently, it can produce content designed to trigger strong reactions, and it can create it at scale. When you share something without checking it first, you become part of that spread, even if you didn't intend to. The good news is that you can also be part of the solution: checking before you share is one of the most impactful media habits you can build. The check doesn't have to be elaborate — a quick search for the claim on a trusted news site, a reverse image search, or just asking a trusted adult takes under a minute. Misinformation that gets shared widely before people check it is much harder to correct than misinformation that stops spreading early. You are a chokepoint — every share you don't make of something false is a small but real contribution to a more accurate information environment.

• Before sharing anything surprising or emotionally charged, pause and check it
• Reverse image search any photo that seems too strange to be real
• Ask: is this from a source I'd trust? Can I find it confirmed elsewhere?
• If you're not sure, the default is: don't share