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Misinformation Guide

Learn how to be an informed consumer of social media and the news

What is SIFT?

SIFT, developed by Mike Caulfield, is a method for identifying misinformation in the digital world.

SIFT method for evaluating information in a digital world

Check Your Feed with SIFT (the four moves - Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace)

STOP: 

  • Take a breath, check your reaction, pause, re-evaluate.
  • Ask yourself if you are certain the information is true.
  • Don't re-post, use, or share until you verify. 

undefinedINVESTIGATE: 

  • Look at the source. Who created the information?
  • Look into who is behind the post and think about why they might post that information.
  • Try looking on a fact-checking site, Wikipedia, or Google for the name, company, organization, story, or publisher. 
  • Learn about the expertise, education, and/or consider the intentions of the producer of the information.

two hands holding a shield with a check mark in it FIND BETTER COVERAGE:

  • If checking the source brings you to a questionable place, try looking in some other sources for similar information.
  • Look beyond the first few results.
  • Check in at least 3 different places. If similar information appears in several reliable places, it is more likely to be accurate.

undefinedTRACE CLAIMS, QUOTES & MEDIA TO THE ORIGINAL CONTENT & CONTEXT:

  • Trace the content back to the original source.
  • Check the full context of the information -- was something left out or not included? 
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