Should You Share This? A Quick Checklist Before You Click

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Social media makes it easy to share news, photos and messages with family and friends across New Zealand in seconds. But not everything that lands in your feed or inbox is true. Misinformation and scams are becoming more common, and even careful, smart people can be caught out. Before you hit that share button, it pays to pause and think. Here is a simple checklist to help you decide.

Check the source first. Ask yourself where the information actually came from. A trusted news site is far more reliable than an unknown page or a message forwarded from a stranger. If the source is unclear or sounds unfamiliar, treat it with caution.

Look at the date. Old stories often resurface and get shared again as if they were new. A quick search of the headline can tell you whether the story is current or years old.

Notice your emotions. Scammers and misinformation often aim to make you feel fear, anger or excitement, because strong feelings make people share without thinking. If a post makes your heart race, take a breath and check the facts calmly before doing anything.

Watch for spelling mistakes and strange formatting. Genuine organisations and news outlets rarely publish content full of errors. Odd fonts, poor grammar or urgent demands for money or personal details are warning signs of a scam.

Search before you share. Type the claim into a search engine and see what trusted sources say. Fact-checking sites and official government pages, such as those ending in govt.nz, are useful tools for confirming whether something is genuine.

Ask someone you trust. If you are still unsure, talk to a family member, friend or your bank before sharing or acting on information, especially if it involves money or personal details.

Taking a moment to check before you share protects not just you but everyone in your network. A little caution goes a long way toward keeping yourself and your loved ones safe online, while still enjoying the connection that social media brings to daily life in New Zealand.