How to verify information: lateral reading, the SIFT method and reverse image search

On social media a single post reaches thousands of people in seconds, so it is worth checking before you share. Research shows that ordinary users often stay on a page and judge it by its look and design; professional fact-checkers behave differently. This reference lays out their methods in simple terms. (Source: Stanford History Education Group — “Evaluating Information: The Cornerstone of Civic Online Reasoning.”)

Lateral reading: leave the source and see what others say

Lateral reading is the most effective way to evaluate a source. It means: do not linger on a suspicious page; instead open new tabs and search for what others say about that source — the site, the author or the organisation. A 2016 study by Sam Wineburg of the Stanford History Education Group (SHEG) found that professional fact-checkers identified misleading sources quickly and accurately precisely because they read laterally. “Vertical reading” — staying on the page and being swayed by its credible look — is far less reliable. (Source: SHEG; Sam Wineburg et al.)

The SIFT method: four simple moves

The SIFT method, developed by media-literacy specialist Mike Caulfield, consists of four moves: Stop — do not share on an emotional reaction to an unfamiliar source; Investigate the source — who is it, is it reliable, who funds it; Find better coverage — check whether reliable outlets report the same claim; and Trace claims, quotes and media back to the original — a quote or statistic pulled out of context often creates a false impression. (Source: Mike Caulfield — “SIFT (The Four Moves).”)

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Reverse image search: the picture’s real place and time

Images and videos are often taken from an old or unrelated event and recirculated as something new. A reverse image search exposes this: upload the picture to Google Images, Google’s “About this image”, TinEye or Yandex to see where and when it first appeared. For video, tools such as InVID/WeVerify split out key frames so each can be checked. If a photo presented as “today” was in fact published years ago in another country, that is a clear warning sign. (Source: Google Search Help — Reverse image search; First Draft — Visual verification.)

Rely on credible fact-checkers

There are independent fact-checking organisations around the world, and most have signed the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the Poynter Institute — a commitment to non-partisanship, transparency of sources and openly correcting errors. When a claim goes viral, check whether an organisation has already verified it. (Source: Poynter — International Fact-Checking Network, Code of Principles.)

The three types of information “disorder”

Researcher Claire Wardle divides information disorder into three types: disinformation — falsehood created deliberately; misinformation — falsehood spread without intent to harm; and malinformation — genuine information used to cause harm. The goal is often to provoke anger or fear so that people share without checking. (Source: First Draft — “Understanding Information Disorder,” Claire Wardle.)

Quick warning signs

Be cautious of: a post with no date or author; a screenshot with no link; an overly emotional or urgent headline (“share immediately!”); a site dressed up to look like a familiar brand but with a strange domain; and vague sourcing of the “a friend told me” kind. In such cases apply SIFT: stop, and check the source and the original context.

Conclusion

You do not need to be a journalist to verify information — a few simple habits are enough: stop before sharing, leave the source and search what others say (lateral reading), trace claims and images back to the original, and consult credible fact-checkers. If in doubt, do not share.