How To Fact-Check Social Media Posts in 5 Minutes
Use this fast five-step checklist to fact check social media posts before you share. Find the original source, confirm dates and context, look for independent confirmation, review the evidence, then label the claim.
- Read time: 3–4 minutes
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- A Sensible View
How to fact check social media posts: The five steps
Step 1 — Find the original source (60 seconds)
Click through to the first publication or video. Note who made the claim, when it was published, and where it first appeared. If there is no clear origin, treat it as unverified.
Step 2 — Check the date and context (45 seconds)
Confirm the publish date. Ask: Is this old content recirculating as “breaking”? Look for cut clips, missing paragraphs, or screenshots without surrounding context.
Step 3 — Corroborate with independent sources (120 seconds)
Search the main nouns and verbs from the claim. Look for confirmation from at least two unrelated outlets or a primary document. Avoid chains of sites that only cite each other.
Step 4 — Inspect the evidence (45 seconds)
Statistics require stated methodology and sample size. Quotations should include the full paragraph or a transcript. Images and videos may be altered—check for edits, crops, or other artifacts. If uncertain, classify as unverified.
Step 5 — Classify before sharing (30 seconds)
Verified: Share with source links.
Unverified: Share only if clearly labeled as unverified.
False/Misleading: If you previously shared it, post a correction.
Common red flags
• Anonymous “insider” with no documents
• Only one outlet covering it, especially late nights or weekends
• Headlines that do not match the body text
• Screenshots of text with no links to a source
5-minute copy-paste checklist
• Original source found (who/when/where)
• Date and context confirmed
• Two independent confirmations
• Evidence or method reviewed
• Classified: Verified / Unverified / Misleading
Why we do this
We started A Sensible View to help people stay informed and find the truth. With so much misinformation and disinformation, it is hard to know what to trust. We explain complex issues in plain language, show our sources, and share tools anyone can use to verify claims.