How to Verify Information Online: A Simple Guide for Singapore Students

In short: Do not believe something just because it looks professional or your friends shared it. Stop, check who wrote it, compare it with two or three reliable sources, and find the original. Always give credit when you use someone else's work.

Why do students believe what they read online?

The internet gives answers in seconds, so we forget to check them. A website with nice photos looks trustworthy. A message in a family or class WhatsApp group feels safe. But anyone can publish anything, and false stories spread fast because they are shocking or emotional. A good student does not ask, "Did I read it?" A good student asks, "Can I prove it?"

The SIFT method: four simple moves

Researchers and librarians teach a method called SIFT, created by Mike Caulfield.

1.     Stop. Pause before you share or copy. If a headline makes you angry or scared, be extra careful.

2.     Investigate the source. Who is behind this information? Open a new tab and search for the author or website. This is called "lateral reading": see what other trusted sources say about them.

3.     Find better coverage. Search for the same claim elsewhere. If it is true, trusted news outlets such as CNA and The Straits Times, government agencies or universities will usually report it too.

4.     Trace it to the original. When an article says "studies show", find the actual study. Check that it really says what the article claims.

In Singapore, the National Library Board (NLB) teaches a similar habit called S.U.R.E.: Source, Understand, Research, Evaluate. The idea is the same: do not accept information until you have checked it.

How to check if news is fake

Warning signs include a shocking headline in CAPITAL LETTERS, no author, no date, spelling mistakes, and a message saying "Share before it is deleted!"

Then take action:

•       Check the date. Old news is often reposted as if it just happened.

•       Check the photo or video. Use a reverse image search such as Google Lens or TinEye. The photo may be from another country or another year.

•       Use fact-checking sources. Factually (factually.gov.sg) is the Singapore Government's website that clarifies falsehoods about government policies and matters of public concern. It only covers claims that the Government addresses, so still compare it with other reliable sources. NLB's S.U.R.E. website also has guides and resources for students on spotting false information.

•       Check the website address. Singapore Government websites end with .gov.sg. Be careful with messages that ask you to click a link or give your details. If you are unsure whether something is a scam, call the ScamShield helpline at 1799.

•       Search in more than one language. Try your keywords in English and in your Mother Tongue (Chinese, Malay or Tamil).

Do not forward doubtful messages. Sharing false information can hurt people, and in Singapore it can also have legal consequences under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).

How to check general knowledge

Never depend on one website. Find at least two or three independent sources that agree. Trust government websites (.gov.sg), universities (.edu.sg), museums, NLB's Singapore Infopedia, respected encyclopaedias and academic journals. Wikipedia is a good place to start, but scroll down to the references and check that they truly support the statement.

How to check history and data

•       Prefer primary sources. These were created at the time: official documents, letters, old newspapers, photographs. The National Archives of Singapore keeps many Singapore records, and NLB's NewspaperSG lets you read old Singapore newspapers online.

•       Check numbers at the source. For statistics on population, employment or trade, go to the Department of Statistics Singapore (SingStat) or data.gov.sg.

•       Doubt famous quotes. Many are wrongly credited. Search the exact words with the person's name and look for the original speech or book.

A warning about using AI for school work

AI chatbots are useful for explaining difficult ideas, but they are dangerous when used carelessly.

•       They can be wrong. AI sometimes gives confident answers that are false. It can invent facts, statistics, quotes, book titles and website links that do not exist.

•       They may not know Singapore well. Answers about local history, laws, MOE syllabuses or exam formats may be incomplete or wrong.

•       Copying AI answers is cheating. Submitting AI-written work as your own is a form of plagiarism, and schools and universities may check for it.

•       It stops you from learning. If AI does the thinking, you will struggle in exams, where no chatbot is allowed.

Use AI to help you understand, not to do the work for you. Always verify what it says using the steps above, and follow your teacher's and school's rules about AI use.

The danger of plagiarism

Plagiarism means using another person's words, ideas, pictures or work and presenting them as your own, even if you did not mean to. It includes copying and pasting from websites, changing only a few words in someone's sentence, using pictures without credit, and submitting work by another student or an AI tool.

The consequences are serious: lost marks, zero for an assignment, disciplinary action, and a damaged reputation. Plagiarism is also different from copyright. Under Singapore's Copyright Act 2021, writing, photos, music and videos are protected automatically, without any © sign or registration. The Act allows certain uses for research, study, criticism, review and education, and students and teachers can use freely available online material for schoolwork. But you must cite the source and give sufficient acknowledgement, such as the author and the title, and creators have the right to be identified. Copying without permission, for example posting someone's work online as your own, can lead to legal action.

How to avoid it:

•       Read the information, close the page, then write in your own words.

•       Use quotation marks for exact words and name the source.

•       Note the author, title, website and date whenever you take notes.

•       Add a reference list, and ask your teacher which style to use, such as APA.

Quick checklist

1.     Who wrote this, and why?

2.     Is there a date, and is it recent enough?

3.     Do two or three reliable sources agree?

4.     Can I find the original source?

5.     Is my work in my own words, with credit given?

Sources

•       Hapgood (Mike Caulfield): SIFT, The Four Moves

•       University of Chicago Library: The SIFT Method

•       National Library Board Singapore: S.U.R.E. for Schools

•       Singapore Government: Factually

•       POFMA Office: Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act resources

•       Intellectual Property Office of Singapore: Copyright Factsheet on the Copyright Act 2021

•       Singapore Statutes Online: Copyright Act 2021