With deliberate misinformation campaigns and the continued prevalence of fake news, fact-checking sites are now more important than ever.
So in the digital era, where news travels quickly through multiple channels, how do you check your facts? Here are some of the best fact-checking websites so that you can find the truth.
If you were wondering who is there to fact-check the fact-checkers, that would be MBFC. From CNN to Breitbart and even browser extensions like Newsguard, MBFC rates them all.
The website is a bias rating resource, with multiple fake news checking apps and extensions integrating these ratings into their own systems. The site's reputation means that it has long been a resource that internet users can visit to check the bias of their favorite news websites.
MBFC not only includes reports on the bias of famous fact-checking websites like Snopes and PolitiFact but also publishes a daily source bias check. Factors that they consider include sourcing, biased wording, story choices, and political affiliation.
The site analyzes bias, transparency regarding funding sources, press freedom in the country of origin, and the site's history of factual reporting. Failed fact-checks and instances of biased language are flagged in each site's summary.
Finally, MBFC also has extensive lists of news sources with different biases (right, extreme, left, etc.). This includes lists of websites known for conspiracies, pseudoscience, and questionable sources. This helps users know which reports to take with a pinch of salt.
Note: We've also included the MBFC News bias rating on each of the fact-checking sites on this list, excluding any sites that have been flagged as including bias.
2. FactCheck.org
MBFC News Rating: Least Biased
Factual Reporting rating: Very High
Not only is FactCheck.org a fact-checking website with an established history of journalistic rigor, but it also partners with Facebook to combat viral fake news.
FactCheck is a non-partisan fact-checking website that focuses primarily on US politics. It is also a non-profit project.
The site regularly debunks claims by politicians and viral fake news. But it also lets users submit their own questions to the website.
Related: How to Avoid Seeing Fake News on Social Media
3. TruthOrFiction.com
MBFC News Rating: Least Biased
Factual Reporting rating: Very High
TruthOrFiction.com is one of the longest-running fact-checking sites out there. While it initially focused on looking at internet hoaxes and rumors, it has extended its range to include general fake news as well. This includes political stories and viral content.
The website gives stories various ratings to reflect their reliability. These include ratings such as true, fiction, unknown, decontextualized, or variations thereof.
The analyses of rumors or stories look at the origins of these stories, whether there are elements of truth, and where stories may have gone astray (such as decontextualizing truth).
4. Africa Check
MBFC News Rating: Least Biased
Factual Reporting rating: Very High
While many fact-checking websites focus on news from Europe or the US, Africa Check verifies news from the African continent.
The website is a signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). It is also one of the IFCN Fact-Checking Organizations available on WhatsApp, which that allows users to submit messages and potential fake news for fact-checking.
5. Lead Stories
MBFC News Rating: Least Biased
Factual Reporting rating: Very High
Lead Stories is a lesser-known website that helps users fact-check information. The website debunks fake news across a variety of beats, including entertainment, tech, politics, and international news.
The website focuses on trending stories, images, videos, and posts with false information. It includes fact checks, analysis, and corrections.
It even has specific feeds dedicated to political affiliations (fact-checking US Democrats and Republicans).
The site also provides fact-checking services to social media companies TikTok and Facebook.
6. FullFact.org
MBFC News Rating: Least Biased
Factual Reporting rating: High
If you are looking for a UK-based fact-checking website, Full Fact is considered a reliable source and is endorsed by MBFC. The website is a fact-checking charity, with a diverse range of funding and transparency around income. They even make sure their Board of Trustees come from different sides of the political spectrum.
Full Fact also goes further than fact checks and even provides a fact-checking toolkit. The site also pushes for corrections from publishers when they publish incorrect or misleading information.
Fact-Checking Sites With Bias?
There are a few popular fact-checking websites that do receive high ratings for factual reporting but do not qualify for this list due to receiving a biased score on MBFC.
A few of these sites include:
- CheckYourFact: Right-center bias
- FactMyth.com: Left-center bias
- Zebra Fact Check: Right-center bias
- ExposingTruth.com: Left-center bias
- Politifact: Left-center bias
These biases emerge from the focal point of fact checks (such as fact-checking the right more than the left), or from the occasional use of loaded words to sway readers. While these websites do usually use credible sources, their focus indicates some level of bias.
Read more: Tips to Avoid (Spreading) Fake News During a Crisis
What About Snopes?
Is Snopes biased? While Snopes used to have a "Least Biased" rating on MBFC, it was updated to a slight left-center bias with a "mostly factual" rating for accuracy.
According to the MBFC rating, the decision was made based on news story selection, while the factual reporting rating related to an investigation into a co-founding editor.
As MBFC states:
We rate Snopes Left-Center biased based on news story selection that slightly favors a liberal perspective. We also rate them Mostly Factual in reporting rather than High due to an investigation that indicates a co-founding editor engaged in plagiarism. The plagiarism was not related to Fact-Checks and they remain credible for fact-checking.
Snopes started out as a site that mainly dealt with urban legends, myths, common misconceptions, rumors, and conspiracy theories. However, it has expanded to encompass general fact-checking of viral misinformation, including political statements.
Snopes has been accused of receiving funding from liberal billionaire George Soros. However, Snope's disclosure page provides a summary of the website's yearly expenditure and income. Its income is split between its GoFundMe campaign, advertising, its Facebook fact-checking partnership, reader contributions, and shareholder financing.
The website further states:
"We do not accept political advertising, nor do we accept any other form of funding from political parties, political campaigns, or political advocacy groups. We accept contributions directly from our readers and from non-partisan organizations to further our mission. The source of any single contribution we receive exceeding $10,000 or comprising more than 5% of our total annual revenue will be disclosed to the public."
Meanwhile, FactCheck.org has put its weight behind Snopes; saying it is a reliable source and frequently citing the website in their own fact-checking articles.
How to Do Your Own Fact-Checking
While fact-checking websites will help you debunk myths and fake news, you should also aim to improve your own skills at spotting fake news.
This will help you figure out the best ways to research topics, avoid confirmation bias, and learn which sites are not credible sources.
