It’s easy to keep yourself from taking in misinformation in social media posts if you remember a basic rule: people hate lying.
For that reason, misinformation is usually presented in a way that will allow the writer, if challenged as to why their information was wrong, to be able to say “read what I wrote, I didn’t lie”.
The hallmarks are:
The writer will claim they are passing on information from someone else, a friend, a source. Maybe they’ll mention “I’m hearing…” or “report say..”
The message won’t be a firm statement but framed as a question.
Vague language with little specifics.
“Im hearing reports that the president spent a few days in hospital last week. If this is true can he stay in power?”
“A friend tells me her aunt works in an insurance company and they’ve been told to raise prices for all drivers of EVs. Now why would that be!”