How to Verify Viral Videos Before Sharing Them: A Simple Fact-Checking Guide

A video can spread across social media within minutes, attracting thousands of views, comments and shares. However, a video that looks convincing does not always tell the complete story. Old footage can be presented as a recent event, misleading captions can change its meaning, and edited clips can leave out important details.

A report published by "Pulse Ghana" (https://www.pulse.com.gh/story/sarkodie-wins-hearts-for-helping-woman-shoved-by-security-in-kumasi-2026102014380532856) on October 20, 2026, described an incident involving Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie during a walk through Kumasi. According to the report, a woman was pushed aside by a member of his security team, and Sarkodie appeared to stop and help her move ahead of the crowd. The video attracted positive reactions from social media users.

The incident provides a useful example of why viewers should check viral footage carefully. Even when a video appears genuine, its caption, date, location and interpretation may still require verification. Fortunately, anyone with a smartphone can perform several basic checks before sharing a video with friends or followers.

1. Find the Original Video

The first step is to identify where the footage came from. A video may be uploaded by the person who recorded it, a witness, a news organisation or an account that simply reposts trending content.

Search for distinctive phrases from the caption alongside the names of the people or places involved. For example, searches combining “Sarkodie,” “Kumasi” and “woman helped” may lead to earlier reports or versions of the footage.

Compare the different results. Check the account that first shared the clip, the publication date and whether the post provides additional information about the event. The earliest result you find is not necessarily the original recording, but it can provide a useful lead.

Finding the original source helps establish context and makes it easier to identify whether later posts have changed the story.

1. Use Reverse Image Search

Reverse image search allows users to search the internet using a picture instead of words. It can help reveal whether a screenshot or video frame appeared online before the current post.

On an Android phone, pause the video at a clear moment and take a screenshot. Open "Google Lens" (https://lens.google.com/) or "Google Images" (https://images.google.com/) and submit the image. Examine the results for earlier publications, matching scenes and reports that provide more context.

The "Google News Initiative’s reverse image search guide" (https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/resources/trainings/fundamentals/reverse-image-search-verifying-photos/) explains how this method can help investigate the history of an image.

For a video, try several screenshots from different moments instead of relying on one frame. A distinctive building, sign or background detail may produce better results than a close-up of a person's face.

Remember that finding a matching image does not automatically prove that the entire video is authentic. Search results should be treated as clues that require further checking.

1. Check the Date and Location

One common form of online misinformation involves genuine footage shared with the wrong date or location. A video recorded months or years earlier may be presented as evidence of something happening today.

Look for clues such as street signs, buildings, landmarks, vehicle markings, weather conditions and event banners. Compare these details with reliable news reports or other images from the claimed location.

Next, compare the upload date with reports about the event. A publication date only tells you when the material was posted, not necessarily when the recording was made.

For the Sarkodie example, readers can compare the footage with the "Pulse Ghana report" (https://www.pulse.com.gh/story/sarkodie-wins-hearts-for-helping-woman-shoved-by-security-in-kumasi-2026102014380532856), which places the incident in Kumasi during his outing ahead of the Rapperholic concert.

If the date or location cannot be established confidently, it is better to describe it as unverified than to guess.

1. Check Official Accounts and Reliable News Sources

When a viral video involves a celebrity, public figure or organisation, look for information from official channels. Sarkodie's "official YouTube artist channel" (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialSarkodie) is one place to check his published content. His recognised social media accounts may also provide statements or original footage.

However, an official account does not necessarily publish every event involving that person. The absence of a post is not proof that an incident never happened.

Compare the available information with reports from established news organisations. Look for reports that identify the event, explain the evidence and distinguish confirmed facts from assumptions.

The "Reuters Fact Check team" (https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/about/) explains how fact-checkers investigate claims by tracing their origins, examining supporting and contradictory evidence, and consulting additional sources.

Where possible, use at least two independent sources rather than relying on several social media accounts that all repeat the same original post.

1. Read the Caption Carefully

A caption can influence how people interpret a video. Words such as “exposed,” “shocking” or “caught on camera” may encourage viewers to react before checking the facts.

Ask yourself whether the caption describes what is visibly happening or makes claims that the footage cannot establish. A short clip might show a person turning away, for example, without revealing the conversation or events that happened immediately before it.

In the Sarkodie incident, viewers should distinguish between the actions described in the report and broader claims about the intentions of the people involved. The footage may show a brief interaction, but it cannot automatically establish everything that happened outside the camera's view.

Avoid repeating accusations or assigning motives unless credible evidence supports them. If important context is missing, explain that limitation rather than presenting speculation as fact.

1. Look for Signs of Editing or Artificial Intelligence

Some videos are edited to remove important moments, combine separate scenes or add misleading audio and captions. Artificial intelligence can also produce realistic-looking images, voices and video sequences.

Watch for abrupt transitions, inconsistent background sounds, mismatched speech and visual details that appear to change unnaturally. Compare suspicious footage with other available versions and seek independent reporting.

These signs are not conclusive on their own. Genuine videos can look unusual because of poor lighting, compression or recording conditions, while sophisticated alterations may be difficult to detect.

Do not rely entirely on an AI-detection tool or an online comment claiming that a video is fake. Consider the original source, surrounding context and independent evidence together.

1. Pause Before Sharing

After completing these checks, decide what the evidence actually establishes. You may confirm the event and location while remaining uncertain about the exact recording date. Alternatively, you may discover that an old video has been given a new caption.

If the evidence is incomplete, do not present the claim as confirmed. You can wait for further information, share a reliable fact-check or explain which details remain uncertain.

The "UK House of Commons Library's guide to verifying images and videos" (https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10816/) also emphasises the importance of checking sources, context and corroborating evidence.

Conclusion

Verifying viral videos does not require advanced technical skills. Finding the original source, using reverse image search, checking dates and locations, consulting official accounts and comparing reliable reports can help readers identify misleading content.

The Sarkodie incident in Kumasi illustrates why it is important to separate what a video shows from what people claim it means. A popular post is not automatically accurate, and a genuine recording can still be shared with an incorrect caption.

Before forwarding a viral clip, take a few minutes to investigate it. Careful verification helps prevent misinformation, protects people from unfair accusations and makes social media a more reliable place to find information.