Why a Process Matters

Fact-checking is not just about knowing the right websites — it is about developing a repeatable process that you can apply consistently, regardless of the claim type or your prior beliefs about its subject matter. A structured approach also helps you stay honest: it is easier to follow a checklist than to resist the temptation to stop searching once you find an answer you like.

The following guide covers the core steps used by professional fact-checkers, adapted for everyday use.

Step 1: Stop Before You Share

The single most effective action you can take is to pause. Research suggests that most people share misinformation not because they are deceived, but because they share quickly without thinking. Before engaging with any piece of content, ask yourself:

  • Do I actually know this is true?
  • Am I sharing because it's accurate, or because it confirms what I already believe?
  • Would I be comfortable if this turned out to be false?

Step 2: Identify the Specific Claim

Many pieces of misinformation bundle multiple claims together, making them harder to evaluate. Before searching, extract and write down the specific, falsifiable claim you want to verify. For example:

  • Vague: "A new study proves coffee is bad for you"
  • Specific: "A study published in [journal] in [year] found that [specific finding]"

If you cannot identify a specific, checkable claim, that itself is a red flag.

Step 3: Search for Primary Sources

Go as close to the original source as possible. If the claim involves:

  • A scientific study: Look it up directly on PubMed, Google Scholar, or the publisher's website. Read the abstract and conclusions — not just a journalist's summary.
  • A government statistic: Go to the relevant government agency's website directly.
  • A quote: Search for the quote with the person's name in quotation marks to find video, transcript, or original document evidence.
  • A law or policy: Find the original text from an official legislative or government source.

Step 4: Use Established Fact-Checking Resources

Several organizations specialize in evaluating specific claims. Reputable fact-checking outlets include:

  • Snopes — especially strong on viral rumors and urban legends
  • PolitiFact — focuses on political statements
  • FactCheck.org — nonpartisan political fact-checking
  • AP Fact Check — from the Associated Press newswire
  • Reuters Fact Check — international scope
  • Full Fact — UK-focused but covers global issues

Note: Fact-checkers can also make mistakes or carry their own perspectives. Use them as a resource alongside, not instead of, your own investigation.

Step 5: Verify Images and Videos

Visual content is especially easy to miscontextualize. A real photo from a different country, year, or event can be shared with a false caption and be highly convincing. To verify images:

  1. Use Google Reverse Image Search or TinEye to find where an image has appeared before.
  2. Use InVID/WeVerify (a free browser plugin) to break videos into frames for reverse image searching.
  3. Look for contextual clues in the image — signs, license plates, landmarks, weather, vegetation — that suggest a specific time or place.

Step 6: Apply Lateral Reading

Rather than reading deeply within a single source, open new browser tabs and search for what credible external sources say about your source. Search: [source name] + "reliability" or [source name] + "review". This gives you an outside perspective quickly.

Step 7: Record Your Uncertainty

Not every claim can be definitively verified or debunked. Sometimes the honest answer is "the evidence is mixed" or "I couldn't find reliable information either way." That uncertainty is a valid and important conclusion — and sharing it is far more responsible than picking a side without solid evidence.

Quick Reference Checklist

  1. ☐ Pause before engaging or sharing
  2. ☐ Identify the specific, falsifiable claim
  3. ☐ Search for primary sources
  4. ☐ Check established fact-checkers
  5. ☐ Verify any images or video with reverse search
  6. ☐ Apply lateral reading to unfamiliar sources
  7. ☐ Be honest about what remains uncertain