Field note 23 / 24·4 min
Check the claim outside the post
A professional-looking page can still tell you a misleading story about itself.
Leave the page to learn about it
Lateral reading means checking outside a source to find out who is behind it and what other reliable sources say. A page’s design, confident tone, or long biography can be self-presentation. Independent context is a stronger start than accepting its own description.
Trace one important claim
Identify the specific claim and look for its original document, dataset, or statement. Check the date, jurisdiction, denominator, and whether the source really supports the headline. Several posts repeating the same sentence may all lead to one unverified origin; repetition is not independent corroboration.
Separate evidence from interpretation. A real statistic can be used out of context, and an old event can be presented as current. If a chart says something doubled, ask from what starting point and over which period. When the original evidence is unavailable, keep the uncertainty visible or hold off sharing. You do not need to settle every claim to decide that a post is not yet verified.
The missing denominator
A fictional post says applications “doubled” without dates or a source. Rising from 2 to 4 and rising from 20,000 to 40,000 both double, but tell different stories. Find the original figures and timeframe before repeating the impression created by the headline.
Illustrative numbers, in consistent units.One thing to try
Choose a non-sensitive claim you recently saw. Find its original source and write one sentence explaining what it actually establishes.
Five websites repeat one unsupported original post. How many independent confirmations does that establish?
Source notes
These references support the general principles. Product terms and legal protections vary by country.
- How to evaluate online sources about historyDigital Inquiry Group · Checked 2026-11-03
For general education. Examples do not include every fee, tax, personal circumstance or local rule, and are not individual advice.