There is a lot of information presented in traditional and social media. How does somebody figure out what is reasonable or factual and if it is from a reliable source?
Think SHEEP before you share. What is the Source of the information and are other trustworthy sites reporting it also? Does this site have a History of being a reputable resource? What Evidence is presented? Check the cited sources. Are they appealing to my Emotions, such as anger and outrage or exuberant agreement? Are the Pictures bypassing my critical thinking?
Memes are often funny and creative, using humor to draw our attention but also to distract us from thinking about what is really being conveyed in the picture. A social media post may elicit strong emotional reactions, which should make you stop and think before you share about whether it is true, what parts might be false, what is the purpose of the post, and if it is hurtful to anybody or any group of people.
Reading critically takes practice. Some sites that can help improve critical reading skills include News Literacy Project (newslit.org) and NewseumED (newseumed.org). And, here are some non-partisan fact-checking sites: FactCheck.org, PolitiFact.com, Snopes.com and Washington Post Fact Checker
— Betsy Patterson