FINDING RELIABLE DATA ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS Can social media platforms be used as sources of information? • • • GUIDE TO FACT-CHECKING AND INFORMATION VERIFICATION • There is a need to use verified accounts (although these days there are parody accounts that are verified). Does the source have a reputation for posting credible information? Before citing a social media source, it is important to know who is behind that account. Make sure you are not quoting a bot – how do you know? Look at post history. THINGS TO NOTE WHEN FINDING THE ACCURACY OF DATA Time when the data was collected Be sure what timeframe your claim speaks to and choose the latest or newest data. Who collected this data and how did they do this? Find out who collected the data, what method was used, who were the respondents and how accurate are their findings. Who funded the data research To avoid bias, note who funded the data you want to use and if they stand to gain from the data. How credible are the sources used? It is important to check the credibility of the sources used. This helps to know if the data can be generalised or not. Be more specific to what you need exactly. Read through your data and find the exact results needed. 13