The internet is full of misinformation, and as participants, we should learn to fact-check what we see online. However, it can be difficult when anyone can post anything online. How are we supposed to know if something is trustworthy or not? Do we have to fact-check all claims that we come across?

Who should be responsible for dealing with misinformation? The platform or its users? Ideally, social media platforms would simply not post or take down misinformation. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, which is why we need to understand how misinformation works and how to spot it.

That’s why it’s essential to know how different sites attempt to limit the spread of misinformation. By understanding how social media platforms combat misinformation, we, as users, can better identify any misinformation we may encounter. I decided to look into two very different sites: Facebook and Reddit.

In 2016, Facebook introduced fact-checking to posts and partnered with five fact-checking organizations to “improve the quality of online media.” Facebook hired real people to go through identified articles individually, fact-check them, and explain why they are being flagged. However, the system wasn’t perfect; they didn’t address memes and paid content or see conspiracy theories or right-wing media sources. Yet this past January, Meta decided to end the program. In a video posted by Mark Zuckerberg, they ended the program because it was a complex system with many mistakes. On PBS News Hour, they identified the change in policy to be politically motivated, Zuckerburg noting the recent election in the announcement; even the President believes that it is caused by his “threats.”

Putting this knowledge to work when using Facebook or any other Meta social media site is essential. There is nothing left to prevent the spread of misinformation except for the users, who now must trust thy neighbor. How much do you trust someone’s ability not to share false information? Their ability to fact-check? Their ability to identify misinformation? People are naturally biased, which makes them more likely to spread misinformation that aligns with their community, interests, and beliefs. Even if it’s shared by someone you trust and has all of the best intentions, you should always be on the lookout for misinformation.

Very similarly, yet entirely different, is Reddit. The company does not provide fact-checking on claims and articles posted online. However, Reddit is home to a unique phenomenon where users actively fight against misinformation. Subreddits, or online communities, are known to collectively identify false information. Reddit employs a reputation score called karma that helps users identify whether or not someone may be reliable or trustworthy. Moderators volunteer their free time to make these online communities safe spaces for people to enjoy and connect. Furthermore, each subreddit is unique, with different members, ideals, and community guidelines that have a role in the spread of misinformation. A 2024 study showed that even communities such as r/conspiracy and r/skeptic take pride in not sharing misinformation, although it may not be on the same level as r/science. However, the level of community moderation reduces in quality as the theme of a subreddit becomes more vague, such as r/bestof or r/TooAfraidTooAsk.

It’s interesting to look at how these two sites wrestle with misinformation. Although neither company removes or identifies false claims, the way users interact on the sites makes one more reliable than the other. However, everyone who uses the internet should always be careful of what claims they see online. Being able to trust your community does not mean you won’t come into contact with misinformation online, whether it’s intentional or not.