How can I spot misleading graphs in news or social media?

Misleading graphs are sometimes used to make information look more dramatic or to support a certain point of view. You can spot them by looking carefully at the way data is presented.

Things to Check

1. Look at the Scale on the Axes
   • If the y-axis (vertical axis) does not start from zero, differences may look bigger than they really are.
   • Example: A bar going from 90 to 95 may look “huge” if the scale starts at 85 instead of 0.
2. Check the Intervals
   • If intervals on the axis are uneven, it distorts the shape of the graph.
3. See if Categories are Missing
   • Sometimes data points are skipped to hide inconvenient facts.
4. Compare Graph Type with Data
   • Using a pie chart for non-percentage data or a 3D chart that hides differences can mislead.
5. Watch for Truncated Bars or Shapes
   • If bars are of different widths or parts of a graph are cut off, it can change the impression.
6. Read the Source
   • Check where the data came from — trustworthy sources usually provide raw numbers or links.

If a news post shows a bar graph where one bar looks “twice as big,” but the numbers are actually 50 and 60, check if the axis starts from 40 instead of 0 — this exaggerates the difference.

Always check axes, intervals, missing data, and source before believing a graph. A good graph should be clear, fair, and use the right scale.