Have you ever shared a cool fact, an amazing health breakthrough or an unbelievable news story, only to realize the information was not true? We’ve all been there. The online environment makes it easier to share nifty tidbits, but harder to be certain that what we share is true.
The good news is you’re not alone; we humans do have tools to make sure we aren’t sharing debunked rumors or obscuring facts with opinion or agenda.
The SIFT Method
Sift fact from fiction with the following four-step thought process. This is useful if you aren’t sure if something is true or false. It’s pretty simple:
Stop. Check your emotions. If a headline, an image, or a claim inspires strong feelings of anger, sadness, disbelief, or vindication, that’s a sign that you don’t want to immediately press the share button.
Investigate. Verify where the information is coming from. Is the source clearly identified? If so, what do you know about them, their expertise, or their bias on this topic? What do other sources say about this topic or about this source?
Find. Locate better coverage, or simply other corroborating coverage. Take a peek at a variety of fact-checking websites like FactCheck.org or the Washington Post Fact Checker.
Trace. Not everyone wants to be a detective, but make an effort to find the original source for any claim. Pay attention to whether multiple accounts all lead back to a single source or perspective.
The SIFT method is attributed to Mike Caulfield.
Check out the following books for more information:
Verified: How to Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions About What to Believe Online – Historian Sam Wineburg and media literacy guru Mike Caulfield offer an informative, approachable guide to navigating the internet. With this illustrated toolkit, readers will learn to identify red flags, gain quick context, and make use of common tools to access and share accurate information.
Killer Underwear Invasion! – While this disinformation guidebook is written for upper elementary kids, the topic sometimes benefits from a lighter touch even for adults. So don’t let the friendly cover scare you.
True or False: A CIA Analyst's Guide to Spotting Fake News – Examples of historical propaganda combined with tips to identify inaccurate information. Aimed at a teen audience, this accessible resource is handy for anyone looking to sharpen their information vetting skills.
Debunk a Myth
Maybe you have a dear friend or family member who has shared incorrect information, and you know for sure it is false. It can be hard to convince someone who is sure of themselves, but you can try this method from John Cook and Stephan Lewandowsky’s The Debunking Handbook and summarized here:
Core fact. Lead with the truth and clearly state the core fact. You will need to fill the upcoming information gap with a simple and clear explanation.
Myth warning. Clearly state that what you are going to share next is not true, and then briefly mention the false information to be corrected.
Fallacy explanation. After you identify the false information, clearly explain why they might have thought it was correct to begin with, and why it is now clearly wrong.
Re-emphasize fact. Repeat the fact again, so that the truth is what is heard first and last. You’re serving a fact sandwich, with explanation and context in the middle.
Check out the following books for more information:
Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things – Social scientist Dan Ariely explores the behaviour of 'misbelief' that leads people to distrust accepted truths and embrace conspiracy.
The Art of Logic in An Illogical World – How both logical and emotional reasoning can help us find common ground and live better. Insightful, useful, and funny, this essential book is for anyone who wants to think more clearly.
What the Fact? – Tracing the spread of misinformation and disinformation through our fast-moving media landscape, readers gain the skills to identify and counter poorly sourced clickbait and misleading headlines.
Opposing Viewpoints: Use the Gale Database to investigate both sides of an argument. This can help determine if a piece of information is fiction or merely a different point of view.
Add a comment to: That Can’t Be True! A Toolbox for Navigating Claims, Facts and Opinions