Springster girls know that the internet can be an awesome place. You can entertain yourself with games, books, music, and movies. You can connect with people all over the world. You can learn about anything you want with a simple search. Amazing!

Unfortunately, not everything that’s on the internet is awesome — or accurate — so savvy girls have to be able to spot a fake.

With everything that’s going on in the world right now, you might find yourself searching online to try and find out more information about things like viruses, vaccines, and pandemics.

You might already have some strong scam-spotting skills, but this is a great time to remind yourself (and your friends and family!) how to find trusted sources of news and information. Here are a few of our favorite resources:

The News is on the News

When you’re looking for the news … a good place to start is the ‘news’! Newspapers and broadcast news (that’s the news that’s on the TV) are often trustworthy sources of information.

The main newspaper and TV station in your country or city is probably a reliable and accurate source, but it’s important to remember that some media outlets focus more on entertainment than the facts, so you can ask a trusted adult, like a teacher or parent, for recommendations if you’re not sure which media outlet is the best choice.

You can also or you can do your own fact-checking through the International Fact-Checking Network (ICFN) on WhatsApp. If you click that link, you’ll find a list of countries and the WA numbers for the different branches of ICFN. Messaging ICFN on WA is free, and it’s a great resource!

Oh, and don’t forget: most TV stations and newspapers have websites and social media profiles, so you can access all of the news online without needing a TV or having to purchase a paper!

Your Government’s Official Website for COVID-19

Around the world, most local governments have created special COVID-19 websites. It will have tips about how to stay healthy and safe and all of the details about how to get medical help if you need it. It’s definitely the best place to go for the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 in our country.

All Around the World

Now you know where to get all of the most reliable news and information about the pandemic in our country, but what if you want to know more about what’s happening in the rest of the world? One of the best places to go is the social media profile or website of a trusted international organization like the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO is busy gathering information from the best doctors, scientists, and researchers around the world and they’re a great source for not just COVID-19 information but all sorts of health information.