SIFTing Fact from Fiction

In a recent article by Amanda Ruggeri, she writes about a technique studied and introduced by expert, Mike Caufield, called the SIFT method. This way of approaching information and data found online has been used to distinguish misinformation or disinformation from unbiased or objective truth. SIFT is an acronym for Stop, Investigate, Find Better Coverage, and Trace back to the Original Context.

The first step, Stop, requires the user to take a pause and reflect. Simple, right? It forces there to be a break in the endless scroll of new and shocking information. Furthermore, it prevents the individual from immediately responding with the knee-jerk reaction of commenting, retweeting, or further distributing the piece of potential misinformation.

The second step is to Investigate the original source from where it came from. Ask questions regarding the credibility of the source. Is this a source that I can trust? What is this individual or organization’s agenda?

Finding better coverage refers to fact-checking. Does this piece of news or information align with what has been stated by nationally or internationally accredited sources? Locate these narratives on library databases along with reputable news broadcasts.

Finally, Trace back and locate the original context of the post’s claim. It is important to verify that the claims, personal accounts, and images that have been reported are not done so out of context. It is incredibly easy with social media for accounts to take shocking news out of context and pose them as the truth.

To conclude, Ruggeri states, “Today, anyone can make a claim on social media. And anyone can be the person whose re-sharing of that claim is the one who makes it go viral. That means it's the responsibility of each one of us to make sure that what we are posting, liking, and sharing is, first and foremost, actually true.”

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