Even before Meta dropped fact-checkers, it could be hard to know what to believe on social media. Parents can help kids sort through posts to learn what’s true.

To researchers who have studied moderation efforts and platforms, it’s the most recent move toward a more freewheeling and unbridled social media environment.

Meta’s shift away from fact checking will require changes for the billions of people who use Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Here’s how they can tell truth from fiction.