Fact-checking fake news

{{whyLabel}}: This book provides the modern gold standard for digital literacy, moving beyond outdated checklists to real-world 'lateral reading' strategies.

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• Focus on the chapters regarding 'Lateral Reading' and the 'SIFT' method.
• Take notes on how professional fact-checkers navigate unfamiliar websites.
• Contrast their methods with the traditional 'vertical reading' (staying on one page).

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have a 1-page summary of the core differences between lateral and vertical reading.

{{whyLabel}}: It offers a professional journalist's perspective on the rigor required to verify claims, data, and quotes.

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• Read the sections on 'Verifying Different Media Types' (Social Media vs. Books).
• Learn the 'Building Inspector' analogy for fact-checking.
• Review the exercises on identifying plagiarism and fabrication.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have identified 5 specific types of claims that always require secondary verification.

{{whyLabel}}: Knowing which organizations follow a strict code of principles ensures you rely on non-partisan, transparent sources.

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• Visit the IFCN website to see the list of verified signatories.
• Bookmark 'Snopes', 'PolitiFact', and 'FactCheck.org' for general claims.
• Bookmark 'Media Bias/Fact Check' to evaluate the ideological leaning of news outlets.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A browser folder named 'Verification' is created with at least 5 verified fact-checking sites.

{{whyLabel}}: Emotional triggers are the primary vehicle for misinformation; stopping prevents impulsive sharing.

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• Practice 'Emotional Checking': When you feel anger or intense agreement, pause for 30 seconds.
• Ask: 'Do I know the reputation of this source?'
• If the answer is no, do not share or engage until the next moves are completed.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have successfully paused before reacting to 3 sensational headlines in your feed.

{{whyLabel}}: You need to know the expertise and agenda of the person or organization behind the information.

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• Open a new tab and search for '[Source Name] Wikipedia'.
• Look for 'Controversies', 'Funding', or 'Political Leaning' sections.
• Use the 'About this result' feature (three dots) in Google Search for quick context.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have identified the funding source or political bias of 3 unfamiliar news websites.

{{whyLabel}}: A single source is rarely enough; consensus among multiple reputable outlets is a strong indicator of truth.

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• Take the core claim of a post and search for it in 'Google News'.
• Look for reporting from established agencies like AP, Reuters, or the BBC.
• Check if the claim is listed in the 'Google Fact Check Explorer'.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have found at least two independent, reputable sources confirming or refuting a trending claim.

{{whyLabel}}: Misinformation often involves 'context theft'—using real media to support a false narrative.

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• Find the original link or primary source (e.g., a research paper or full interview transcript).
• Compare the original quote with the snippet used in the social media post.
• Check the date: Is an old event being presented as new?

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have traced a social media quote back to its original full-length source.

{{whyLabel}}: This is the industry-standard tool for journalists to debunk fake videos and images.

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• Install the 'Fake News Debunker' (InVID) extension on Chrome or Firefox.
• Use the 'Keyframes' tool to break a video into still images for reverse searching.
• Use the 'Analysis' tab to check for metadata and potential manipulations.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: The extension is installed and you have successfully extracted keyframes from one YouTube video.

{{whyLabel}}: Visuals are often recycled from different years or locations to mislead.

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• Right-click an image and use 'Search image with Google Lens'.
• Upload the same image to TinEye and sort by 'Oldest' to find the original publication date.
• Look for discrepancies in the background (weather, signs, clothing) that don't match the claim.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have identified the original source and date of a suspicious image.

{{whyLabel}}: Disinformers often delete or change posts once they are debunked; archives provide a permanent record.

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• Enter a URL into 'archive.org' to see previous versions of a page.
• Compare 'snapshots' from different dates to see if a headline or quote was stealthily edited.
• Use it to verify if a 'screenshot' of a tweet is real or a fabricated image.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have successfully viewed a version of a news site from at least one year ago.

{{whyLabel}}: We are naturally inclined to believe information that supports our existing worldviews, making us vulnerable to 'echo chambers'.

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• Identify a topic you feel strongly about (e.g., climate change, politics).
• Actively seek out a reputable source that challenges your view on that topic.
• Practice 'Steel-manning': Try to explain the opposing argument as fairly as possible.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have written down one valid point from an opposing viewpoint that you previously ignored.

{{whyLabel}}: Repeated exposure to a lie makes it feel like the truth, even if we initially knew it was false.

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• Research how repetition affects the brain's perception of truth.
• Be aware of 'viral' claims that appear on multiple platforms simultaneously.
• Remind yourself: 'Familiarity is not a proxy for truth.'

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You can define the Illusory Truth Effect and identify one instance where you saw it in action.

{{whyLabel}}: Psychological inoculation (prebunking) is more effective than debunking after the fact.

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• Learn common manipulation tactics: Scapegoating, False Dilemmas, and Ad Hominem attacks.
• Watch 'Bad News' (a game by Cambridge University) to see how misinformation is created.
• Recognize these patterns in real-time to 'disarm' the misinformation before it sticks.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have played the 'Bad News' game or a similar media literacy simulation.

{{whyLabel}}: Real-world practice is the only way to turn these steps into a habit.

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• Select a controversial post with high engagement.
• Apply the SIFT method: Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, Trace the media.
• Use InVID or Google Lens if there is a visual component.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have produced a short 'verification report' (True/False/Misleading) with evidence for one post.

{{whyLabel}}: Small environmental changes can significantly reduce the accidental spread of misinformation.

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• Enable 'Read before you share' prompts if available on the platform.
• Commit to a '1-minute rule': Never share a link without at least 60 seconds of lateral reading.
• Unfollow or mute accounts that consistently post unverified or sensational content.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Your social media feed is cleaned of at least 5 low-quality sources.

{{whyLabel}}: If you accidentally share misinformation, how you correct it matters for the health of your network.

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• If you find you shared something false, delete it or post a clear correction.
• Use the 'Truth Sandwich' method: Start with the truth, mention the lie, and end with the truth again.
• Avoid repeating the lie in the headline of your correction.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have a template for a 'Truth Sandwich' correction ready to use.