Does your head in sometimes,that's for sure. I usually trust the image thing - they're really good sometimes, but if you pay attention, you figure it out. Also, sometimes I see "dream" collabs and take a step back and think "this sounds too good to be true, and wouldn't X artist have mentioned it on their Instagram or something if they were really collaborating with Y"?
The uploader is also a deas giveaway, for sure. They always have these obvious names like "something something music" like they're the next big record company. If your favorite artist really released a killer new track, it'd be on their account for sure.
I think with time we'll either learn to tell them apart, or else the fake will become weirdly enmeshed with the real in our minds and not bother us anymore.
Yes, those are some really good points! I'm glad it's not just me and I am glad you have found a way to kind of separate them. At least for now. the dream collab you mentioned is another good tell!