Get Your Facts Right – 6 Fact Checking Websites That Help You Know The Truth

Internet has been called “The Information Super Highway” and rightly so. Its now the epicenter of breaking news and the free flowing information has brought the world and the people closer and made us aware of other cultures and traditions. But all this comes with a flipside.

The amount of misinformation that is spread is staggering. It is spread mainly via Websites, Social Networks and Email. The Hot Topics for such Misinformation are generally Politics, Government Policies, Religion and various Scams and Hoaxes. Some websites have taken up the task of spreading awareness against rumors by presenting evidence and hard facts. Lets look at some of the best websites that help us distinguish between thee truth and rumors.

Snopes.com is one of the best online resources that debunks Urban Legends and Rumors on a huge number of topics. Its run by by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson, who established this website in 1995.

Since that time they have constantly updated the database with new facts about, why something that is considered “scary” or “sinister” is actually just a legend created by the common folk. The number of topics they cover is just astounding and they present enough evidence about every topic so that the visitors can make up their mind, whether the topic being discussed it true or just a rumor.

Visit Snopes.com

TruthOrFiction.com is your Email Reality Check. Get the truth about rumors, inspirational stories, virus warnings, hoaxes, scams, humorous tales, pleas for help, urban legends, prayer requests, calls to action, and other forwarded emails. So basically it covers almost every hoax that lands in your Email Inbox.

Even if you are Internet savvy, sometimes, these rumors can really sound true. If you forward such emails to your friends, you are not only exposing them to the danger of going on some untrusted website, but also are wasting bandwidth and server resources.

TruthorFiction.com covers a huge array of topics, so you can rest assured that you would get answers to weirdest rumors.

Visit TruthOrFiction.com

Hoax-Slayer allows Internet users to check the veracity of common email hoaxes and aims to counteract criminal activity by publishing information about common types of Internet scams. Hoax-Slayer also includes anti-spam tips, computer and email security information, articles about true email forwards, and much more.

This website is another Old School website about countering Email based Hoaxes.

Visit HoaxSlayer.com

FactCheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.

They monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Their goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.

Visit FactCheck.Org

PolitiFact.com is a project of the St. Petersburg Times to help you find the truth in American politics. Reporters and editors from the Timesfact-check statements by members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists and interest groups and rate them on our Truth-O-Meter.

Visit PolitiFact.com

OpenSecrets.org is your nonpartisan guide to money’s influence on U.S. elections and public policy. Whether you’re a voter, journalist, activist, student or interested citizen, use this free site to shine light on the government. Count cash and make change.

Not exactly a Fact Checking website, but it does keeps a tab on how much contribution does a representative of Congress get from a specific company or a lobby group. You can see if this influences the decisions made by the person. This is one step towards making your representative in the senate more accountable.

Visit OpenSecrets.Org

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