Get to know the source better. Understand their mission and who manages the information. Understand the content properly. Some websites tend to sensationalize headlines in hopes to bring in more pageviews. It's important to read the headline and the content. Double check the date. Sometimes old news surfaces, confusing readers. Verify the research. A lot of news and content carry sources. Verifying where they came from helps you to understand the issue and its motives better. Get to know the author of the piece. Is this person real and what is their background? Double check if it's not satire. You can do this by looking under the website's 'About Us' section Avoid prejudice. Understand that your belief in something can influence your judgement. Ask an expert. If at all you're unsure about something, it's always good to speak to an expert to understand a topic or issue better. Stay informed, stay safe.