The news is full of debates about facts and “alternative facts.”

So what is really the truth? According to National Geographic Family, an experiment conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that adults believed false “news” reports about 20 percent of the time. A poll by Common Sense Media found that fewer than half of kids surveyed could tell fake stories from real ones.

These tips from the Nat Geo book Breaking the News offers simple steps kids (and adults) can follow to tell the difference between real news and misinformation. They will also encourage children to think independently and become responsible digital users.

1. Stop before you click. Studies show that people are more likely to click on a headline or share a post if it makes them feel happy, angry or excited, says National Geographic. This is especially true among young people, who are most likely to read clickbait with its provocative headlines. Stop, breaathe and think about what’s making you feel that way. Does it have wild statements with no bck-up? And because headlines can deceive, kids should read the whole article or post before sharing.

2. Go to the Source.Authentic news will include sources for the information.A reliable news story will also provide sources or different sides of an issue. Also look for the names of the peole quoted and the organizations that provide the facts and figures. If they aren’t provided that’s a red flag.

3. Fact-check suspicious stories. Do an internet search on the article’s headline or the post title to see if it’s already been identified as false. If the story is real, other reliable news outlets would have written about it. You can also go to www.Snopes.com to check whether something is true or a hoax.