I was looking at Tik Tok while I was on a group call and shared my screen with my friend. The news on it made her scared, and really upset her. By sharing this is made her so scared she cried. I don’t want that, I want to keep my friends safe and happy online so I wanted to write this to help anyone who accidentally sees stuff and believes the rubbish on tiktok or youtube, I mean, have you ever been scrolling through TikTok and seen something that made you gasp? I saw someone say, “ICE is coming to England to shoot people!” and that “Roblox will go offline forever!” Or maybe you’ve seen the rumour that “Stranger Things will have a secret new series” or even that “guns will be allowed in schools.” Thankfully I have my dad and his THREE SOURCES rule to make sure I know what is real and what is not. Here’s what I have learned.

💬 Why It’s Important to Think Before You Share
When we share false information, even by accident, it can cause worry, panic, or even harm. Many creators on TikTok have learned that spreading rumours can hurt others or make people scared for no reason.

By being careful and checking our facts, we help make the internet a kinder, safer place. Imagine if everyone took a moment before hitting “share”—the online world would be full of less fear and more facts!

Those things can sound scary, exciting, or just plain weird. But here’s an important truth: not everything you see on TikTok is real!

Let’s dig in and find out why some people spread false information online, how it spreads so fast, and—most importantly—how you can spot what’s true and what’s total rubbish!

🌪 What Is Misinformation?
Misinformation means false or misleading information. It’s when someone shares something that isn’t true—sometimes by accident, and sometimes on purpose.

On TikTok, anyone can post a video about anything. That’s great for creativity and fun—but it also means people can share things that are made up, misunderstood, or even designed to scare or trick others.

So when you see a shocking claim—like that “Roblox is shutting down forever”—it’s best to pause before believing it. TikTok videos can be edited to look real, even when they’re fake!

📱 How Does Fake News Spread So Fast?
Once a video goes viral, thousands or even millions of people might see it in just a few hours. When people get frightened or excited, they tend to share things quickly.

That’s how a false rumour can spread across the world faster than you can say “For You Page!” Many viewers don’t stop to check if the information is true—they just hit share.

It’s a bit like when someone in the playground whispers a secret that isn’t true. By the time it reaches the tenth person, the story has grown, changed, and become completely different from what it started as!

🕵️‍♀️ How to Be a Truth Detective
Good news! You don’t need a magnifying glass or a trench coat to spot what’s real on TikTok—you just need to be smart and thoughtful. Here’s how to be a Truth Detective online:

Check more than one source. USE THE THREE SOURCE RULE
If something sounds shocking, look it up on trusted news websites, like BBC Newsround or CBBC. If you can’t find the story there, it’s probably not true. This is why my dad made me learn the THREE SOURCE RULE. Check three sources you know you can trust first, then you know if its probably true or just internet rubbish and click bait.

Ask a grown-up.
Parents, teachers, or carers can help you check if something online is real. They might know about recent events or know how to find reliable sources.

Look for the blue tick.
On TikTok, if an account has a blue tick (✅), it’s verified. That means TikTok has confirmed it’s the real person or organisation. Still, remember—even verified creators can make mistakes!

Watch out for clickbait.
Videos with scary titles like “This JUST happened!” or “Don’t watch this if you’re in England!” might be trying to trick you into watching. Real news doesn’t use dramatic titles to grab attention.

Follow reliable accounts.
Instead of random “news” pages, follow channels that are known for being trustworthy and careful with what they post.

🌈 The Bottom Line
TikTok is a brilliant place for creativity and fun, but it’s not the same as a news channel. Some things you see there will be true, some half true, and some completely false.

So next time someone says, “Did you hear Roblox is shutting down?” you can smile and say, “I checked—that’s not true!”

When you’re a Truth Detective, you don’t just scroll—you think, check, and stay smart online. 💡