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(T)he risk of misinformation being spread on social media has become evident to everyone.  We have known for some time that news and even images can be easily manipulated, for any number of reasons, at times simply for sheer narcissism.  Being critical in this regard is not about demonizing the internet, but is rather an incentive to greater discernment and responsibility for contents both sent and received.  All of us are responsible for the communications we make, for the information we share, for the control that we can exert over fake news by exposing it. All of us are to be witnesses of the truth:  to go, to see and to share."

Excerpt from transcript of Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 2021 World Communications Day, “Come and See” (Jn 1:46): Communicating by Encountering People Where and as They Are.  Image from Catholic World Report, January 23, 2021. 

SIFT (the four moves) methodology, depicted below, allows users to efficiently and effectively identify reliable internet information and sources before using or spreading the information. It was developed by Michael Caulfield, a research scientist who studies online rumors and misinformation at the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, and co-author with Sam Wineburg of the book, Verified: How to Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions about What to Believe Online. 

Each of the "four moves," briefly summarized below and in the videos "Online Verification Tips", employs the technique of "lateral reading," which involves researching sources and claims independent of the source being investigated. Caufield's more detailed explanations of the "four moves" can be found here. 

The image, SIFT (the four moves) by Mike Caulfield is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4 International License. 

Stop....and ask: Do I know the source of this information? As internet users, we are responsible for the spread of misinformation when we read, or worse, share information without knowing where it comes from.  While we do not need to verify every meme or pet video, we should recognize the insidious nature of unsourced internet information, how it is spread, and our responsibility to the truth. 

Investigate the source:  We all know that the source of information can provide important context to it. As Caufield notes, "If you’re reading a piece on economics by a Nobel prize-winning economist, you should know that before you read it. Conversely, if you’re watching a video on the many benefits of milk consumption that was put out by the dairy industry, you want to know that as well." SIFT (the four moves). Your investigation should meet your needs as a reader. Sources that are used for class assignments, health information, purchasing decisions, and other important needs require a different level of scrutiny than information for casual knowledge, but should still be reliable and unbiased.  

Find better coverage: Another way to verify online information is to investigate the facts or claims being asserted, rather than where the information came from. Search for information about the claim itself using other sources that are more detailed or trustworthy.  For example, searching the wider internet about whether Pope Francis endorsed Donald Trump for president is much more efficient than reading a sensationalist story on the site you are on, only to find later that it is "fake news." 

Trace claims, quotes, and media to the original context: A favorite form of misinformation comes from publishing information, videos, pictures, and other material out of its original context.  Tracing the claim means putting the published words or actions into the context from which they came.