Lesson 2: Reverse Image Search and Metadata Checking (M3-U3-L2)

M3-U3-L2-AText "Metadata"

Introduction

Ana is 67 and loves browsing travel stories online. One day, she sees a photo of a snowy beach in Portugal… in July. It looks beautiful, but something doesn’t feel right.

Images and videos are everywhere online, but sometimes they aren’t what they seem. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to check where an image really comes from, when it was taken, and whether it’s been edited.

You’ll discover tools like Google Reverse Image Search, TinEye, and metadata readers that help reveal the truth behind what you see.

Ana Has a Doubt About a Photo

M3-U3-L2-B Meet Ana

She decides to check it using Google Reverse Image Search — and finds the same photo was posted five years ago in Canada. It was simply reused with a fake caption.

Next, she uses a tool to look at the image’s metadata, and confirms it wasn’t taken in Portugal at all. Now, Ana is learning how to look beyond the surface, and in this lesson, you’ll learn how to do it too.

How to check if a photo is real?

Transcript

Scene 1 – Why check photos?
“Some pictures online are fake — or taken from somewhere else.”

Scene 2 – Use Google Images
“Go to images.google.com. Click the camera. Upload a photo. Google shows where it came from.”

Scene 3 – Try TinEye.com
“TinEye is another tool. It shows when and where the photo first appeared.”

Scene 4 – What is metadata?
“Photos can store details like date, place, and camera used. That’s called metadata.”

Scene 5 – How to check metadata
“Use a site like exif.regex.info. Upload the photo. See the real date and place.”

Scene 6 – Spot a fake
“Look for clues: strange shadows, blurry edges, wrong date or place.”

Scene 7 – Final Tip
“If it looks too strange or too good, check it first. Now you know how.”

Which Tool Should I Use?

Quick Reminder – Checking Photos and Videos

M3-U3-L2-E Picture collection

Here’s a simple reminder of what you just learned — great to keep in mind next time you see a photo or video online and think, “Hmm, is this real?”

Use reverse image search
If something looks strange, upload it to Google Images or TinEye.com
These tools show you where the image came from and how old it is.

Look at the metadata
Use sites like Exif.regex.info or fotoforensics.com
They reveal when, where, and how a photo was taken, and sometimes what’s missing!

Watch out for clues of fake photos

  • Shadows in the wrong place
  • Strange blur or edges
  • Wrong date or location
  • Same photo used years ago for something else

If something feels “off,” take a second look. You now know what to check — and you can help others check, too!

Summary

M3-U3-L2-F Text "Fact - Fake"

Well done, you’ve just learned how to check if a photo or video is real. That’s a big step toward staying safe and smart online.

Let’s recap what you can do now:

  • Use Google Images or TinEye to trace where a photo really came from
  • Check the metadata to see when and where the photo was taken
  • Spot little clues that show if an image was edited or fake

You’ve learned tools that help you trust what you see, and help others do the same.

Keep going — the more you practise, the easier it gets! You’re building strong digital habits for yourself and your community.