Thread by @mediawise

The queen, my lord, is… not dead. Yesterday Twitter was abuzz after #HollywoodUnlocked published an “exclusive” claiming Queen Elizabeth II died. Good news: Several reputable news sources denied the claim. Bad news: This isn’t the last time we’ll see a celebrity death hoax🧵

We’re @MediaWise, and we teach people all over the world how to be smarter consumers of news and information online. Long story short, we know a thing or two about how to make sure the info you’re reading online is legit.

We figured now’s a good time to chat about how to assess breaking news about celebrity deaths responsibly. When you see a claim that someone famous/important/popular has died, WAIT IT OUT. These stories are enticing, but facts can often be distorted or left out.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS check your sources. A rumor and a report may both begin with the letter ‘r’ but they are far from the same thing. Consult news organizations with established editorial standards and a track record of fact-based reporting before sharing.

The BEST thing to do is wait until ~3 legitimate news sources are reporting the same information. In this case, #HollywoodUnlocked is a gossip blog. The likelihood that they’d have the exclusive on the death of a monarch — before, say, the BBC — is low.

Then, you should check your emotions. The “news” of a beloved stars’ death is shocking, surprising and upsetting, leading us to share with friends immediately rather than assessing the validity of the claim. It’s always a good idea to take a beat and check the facts first.

Remember to be respectful. Public figures are people too! Keep in mind that your hot takes and commentary can have the potential to cause real harm to these people and their families. Plus, you never know what is going to get amplified and go viral online.

Okay last thing (and this is pretty awk), PLEASE confirm that you’re not looking at something intended to be satirical. We see too many posts about celeb deaths that were jokes or meant to be funny. Again, they’re real people with real families too.

Don’t get caught up in the misinfo hype especially when it comes to celebrity deaths. This is a tricky subject that can go really bad really fast. Do your due diligence to confirm what you’re seeing is true. Follow us for more digital media literacy tips and fact-checks!