Take a moment to assess the situation before engaging with an article or video:
Ask yourself – Am I familiar with this source? Do I trust it?
If you're unsure about the source, use the other SIFT moves to quickly evaluate it.
Feeling overwhelmed? Take a breath and remind yourself why you're fact-checking.
Remember, the goal is to make a quick initial assessment, not to get bogged down in extensive research.
Give SIFT a go with this interactive cabbage conundrum.
I – Investigate the source
Know what you’re reading before you read it.
Understanding the source's background and potential biases is crucial to your interpretation of what is being said:
Use Wikipedia to investigate your source – Add the word "Wikipedia" to the end of your search to see if there is a Wikipedia article to provide background on the topic or author.
Google the source – Look for basic information about the organisation or individual to verify their expertise.
Consider the following:
Is this source what I initially thought it was?
If not, does this make it more or less trustworthy?
Hovering is another technique to see who is sharing information, especially on social media platforms such as X and Meta.
Watch this video on how to use Wikipedia to investigate your source and then work through the following interactive book on investigating in SIFT.
F – Find better coverage
When a source seems questionable, broaden your search to find better coverage:
Scan for other reporting – Use news search engines to see who else is covering the story. This helps you gauge the broader consensus.
Check fact-checking sites – Consult reputable fact-checkers for analysis of current claims and stories (list of fact checking sites).
Verify images – Use reverse image search to find the original context of images.
Consider scholarly sources when appropriate – For complex or scientific topics, a quick search on Google Scholar might provide helpful context, but remember SIFT is primarily for quick, initial evaluations.
Watch this video on how to check other sources.
T – Trace claims, quotes, and media back to the original context
Trace the claim, quote, or media back to the source, so you can see it in its original context and get a sense if the version you saw was accurately presented.
One of the most common and damaging disinformation techniques is false framing – linking a real article but summarising it in a way that is deceptive.
Here's how to verify the information:
Check the original publication date – This helps you understand if the information is current or if more recent developments might have occurred.
Read the full context – Click through to the original article and quickly search for key terms. This ensures you grasp the complete picture rather than relying on potentially biased summaries.
Trace your steps with this interactive book on misinformation and then watch this video on how to trace an image back to its source.
