Image manipulation is common practice in the creation of fake news. Images are powerful messaging tools that serve as a mental shortcuts for the human brain.
Journalists use fake images to exaggerate situations and sensationalise news.
Here are three ways to assess the validity of an image:
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- Use a reverse image search
A reverse image search will reveal whether the image has been taken from another website or modified. See below a fake photo of Vladimir Putin sitting powerfully surrounded by other world leaders.
2. Check the shadows
If people or objects have been inserted into images their shadows will not match the other objects in the frame. Using a ruler and pencil, rule a line from a point on an object to a corresponding point on the shadow and compare the lines to spot the inserted image.
Steps:
- Right click on the image.
- Select Copy image address.
- Go to Google and select Images from the top right corner.
- You will get the Google Search box with a camera icon. Click on the camera icon,and paste the image address in the Paste image URL box.
- This will bring up a list of results showing where that image has been published on the internet.
- Use fact checking websites
Snopes, Factcheck.org, or PolitiFact are three good options.
See article below by Snopes of a shark that has been inserted into a flooded street to sensationalise the flood.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pool-shark/
-Jake
FlakeOnFake 
Will do this next time i’m suspicious
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