Check Credibility (SIFT / Lateral Reading)
Use quick lateral reading moves to verify who’s behind a source and whether a claim holds up.
Video 1: Check Yourself with Lateral Reading (CrashCourse)
Open on YouTube
Video 2: Sort Fact from Fiction with Lateral Reading (Stanford)
Open on YouTube
Do these four moves (SIFT)
- Stop. What is this? Who’s behind it?
- Investigate the source. New tab → Google the site/author + about/Wikipedia.
- Find better coverage. Search the claim; see if quality outlets confirm/challenge it.
- Trace to the original. Follow quotes/links back to the study, dataset, or full context.
Fast checks
- Author/Source: credentials, affiliation, contact?
- Evidence: citations, data, methods; can you view the original?
- Date: current enough for this topic (health/tech change fast)?
- Purpose: inform vs. persuade/sell; watch loaded language & ads.
Power moves
- Use
site: searches (e.g., site:nih.gov) for reliable background.
- Search the source + ownership, funding, or controversy.
- Scan “About” pages and the source’s Wikipedia entry for context.