I contributed to this by @BBCFergusWalsh with more details on those false rumours about the vaccine trial spreading on social media So here’s a quick thread on how to spot fake news like this

Check your sourceThis rumour seemed to originate on a site you’ve probably never heard of. The link was then shared across social media. Check what @UniofOxford are saying since they’re running the vaccine trial. Or check news sources and public health bodies you trust.

Just because one thing is true doesn’t mean *everything* is The site where the claims seemed to originate shares both genuine and fake news stories. This is a lot like the lists of dodgy medical advice that have gone viral - some tips are true and others myths.

Does it look fake? The article was written in poor English with grammatical errors. That’s often a red flag that it’s not real. Capital letters and mismatched fonts are also often indicators a post might be misleading.

Think about bias The article was shared in Facebook groups with tens of thousands of members that oppose vaccinations. Think about the motive of the person sharing it Are they sharing it because they know it's true - or just because they agree with it?

Does it make you emotional? This rumour will make lots of people feel worried, angry or upset - and more likely to pass it on. Stop and think before you share

Here are more tips on how to spot misinformation about coronavirus online https://twitter.com/bbcsounds/status/1240965665055539201?s=21 https://twitter.com/bbcsounds/status/1240965665055539201

And on how to slow the spread of misleading stuff on social media This might be for @BBCNewsround but the advice isn’t just for kids https://twitter.com/mariannaspring/status/1245740954163777537

Plus catch this excellent thread by @Shayan86 breaking this down Reporting on misinformation online is about showing your workings not just the answers so everyone can see how you got there + investigate misleading stuff themselves https://twitter.com/shayan86/status/1254382154286579712?s=21

And here is the volunteer in question! She’s spoken to @BBCFergusWalsh today - definitely alive https://twitter.com/bbcferguswalsh/status/1254440535709962245?s=21 https://twitter.com/bbcferguswalsh/status/1254440535709962245