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Fake Online Information v. Real Online Information

When we search for information using a search engine, sometimes our results consist of a lot of junk! This guide is to assist you with recognizing what is junk/fake information and what is real.

SIFT Method

Long Description: The image is a horizontal graphic with a dark background. It features four yellow symbols arranged in a row from left to right. The first symbol is a yellow octagonal shape similar to a stop sign, containing a white hand, suggesting the concept of “Stop or Pause.” The second symbol is a speech bubble, signifying “Reflect or Think.” The third symbol is an irregular shape depicting a brain, pointing to “Use Your Brain.” Finally, the fourth symbol resembles a human heart, representing “Proceed With Care.” Above each symbol, text explains the concept each icon conveys. Alt-text: Four yellow symbols: a hand in a stop sign, a speech bubble, a brain, and a heart, each representing different steps in decision-making processes. Transcribed Text: Pause Reflect Use Your Brain Proceed

"The SIFT method is an evaluation strategy developed by digital literacy expert, Mike Caulfield, to help determine whether online content can be trusted for credible or reliable sources of information. All SIFT information on this page is adapted from his materials with a CC BY 4.0 license.

Determining if resources are credible is challenging. Use the SIFT method to help you analyze information, especially news or other online media."

Sources: 

This guide is based on the work of Kaitlyn Van Kampen's library guide, "Evaluating Resources and Misinformation." Please see original guide:
https://guides.lib.uchicago.edu/c.php?g=1241077&p=9082322

This guide is based on the works of Clark Library's  guide, "Evaluating Information: SIFT (The Four Moves)." Please see origial guide: https://clark.libguides.com/evaluating-information/SIFT

S - Stop

Before you read or share an article or video, STOP!​

  • Be aware of your emotional response to the headline or information in the article. Headlines are often meant to get clicks, and will do so by causing the reader to have a strong emotional response.
  • Before sharing, consider:
  • What you already know about the topic. ​
  • What you know about the source. Do you know it's reputation?
  • Before moving forward or sharing, use the other three moves: Investigate the Source, Find Better Coverage, and Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media back to the Original Context.

 

I - Investigate the Source

The next step before sharing is to Investigate the Source.

  • Take a moment to look up the author and source publishing the information.
  • What can you find about the author/website creators? ​
  • What is their mission? Do they have vested interests? ​Would their assessment be biased?
  • Do they have authority in the area?​
  • Use lateral reading. Go beyond the 'About Us' section on the organization's website and see what other, trusted sources say about the source.​ You can use Google or Wikipedia to investigate the source.
  • Hovering is another technique to learn more about who is sharing information, especially on social media platforms such as Twitter.

F - Find Better Coverage

T - Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to their Original Context

  • Click through to follow links to claims
  • Open up the original reporting sources listed in a bibliography if present
  • Look at the original context. Was the claim, quote, or media fairly represented?