The Sift Strategy A Four Step Method For Spotting Misinformation

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 5, 2025, 2:38 PM

the sift strategy a four step method for spotting misinformation

Pioneered by digital literacy experts, the "Sift" strategy is a technique for spotting fake news and misleading social media posts, says Amanda Ruggeri. It's no secret that misinformation is rampant on social media. And it's even more so in some subjects than others. Research has found, for example, that around two-thirds of the most popular YouTube videos on vaccines contain misinformation. The fall-out can be dire: an uptick in inaccurate anti-vaccination content online correlates with a decline in vaccination coverage, especially among children. That has led to larger outbreaks of potentially deadly diseases, like measles, than have been seen in recent years.

"Misinformation is worse than an epidemic," Marcia McNutt, president of the US National Academy of Sciences, put it in 2021, implicitly referring to the Covid-19 pandemic. "It spreads at the speed of light throughout the globe and can prove deadly when it reinforces misplaced personal bias against all trustworthy evidence." In today's onslaught of overwhelming information (and misinformation), it can be difficult to know who to trust. In this column, Amanda Ruggeri explores smart, thoughtful ways to navigate the noise. Drawing on insights from psychology, social science and media literacy, it offers practical advice, new ideas and evidence-based solutions for how to be a wiser, more discerning critical thinker. There are many reasons why misinformation travels so quickly – according to some research, even faster than accurate information.

One reason is that people are far more likely to share a claim when it confirms their pre-existing beliefs, regardless of its accuracy. This cognitive bias may help explain why even more misinformation seems to be shared by individuals than by bots. One study, for example, found that just 15% of news sharers spread up to 40% of fake news. Navigating the Deluge of Misinformation: A Practical Guide to Critical Thinking in the Digital Age In today’s hyper-connected world, the rapid dissemination of information, both accurate and inaccurate, presents a significant challenge to discerning truth from falsehood. The proliferation of misinformation, particularly on social media platforms, poses a grave threat to public health, societal well-being, and democratic processes.

This phenomenon, often exacerbated by algorithms and confirmation bias, requires individuals to adopt a critical and analytical approach to consuming and sharing information. The "SIFT" method, pioneered by digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield, offers a practical framework for navigating the complexities of the digital landscape and identifying misinformation. The SIFT method comprises four essential steps: Stop, Investigate, Find, and Trace. The first step, "Stop," encourages individuals to pause before engaging with or sharing online content. This crucial initial step interrupts the impulsive nature of online interactions, allowing for a more deliberate and considered assessment of the information presented. By resisting the urge to immediately react or share, we create space for critical thinking and informed decision-making.

The second step, "Investigate the source," emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing the origin of the information. It prompts us to question the credibility and potential biases of the source. Is the source a reputable news organization with a demonstrable commitment to journalistic integrity? Is the author an expert in the relevant field? What are the source’s potential motivations, financial interests, or political affiliations? By critically evaluating the source, we can gain insights into the potential veracity and objectivity of the information presented.

A helpful tool for this investigation is Wikipedia, which although not infallible, provides a readily accessible overview of individuals, organizations, and their potential biases. The third step, "Find better coverage," encourages us to seek corroboration from multiple reputable sources. If the initial source’s credibility is questionable, it’s essential to cross-reference the information with established news outlets, fact-checking websites, and other reliable sources. Google’s search engine, Google News, and Google Fact Check provide valuable resources for verifying information. However, it’s important to note that even fact-checking websites require scrutiny, and checking their affiliation with organizations like the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network can help ensure their reliability. Furthermore, reverse image search tools like Google Images, TinEye, and Yandex can be used to verify the authenticity and context of images and videos.

SIFT is an evaluation strategy developed by digital literacy expert Michael Caulfield (Washington State University Vancouver) to help you judge whether online content can be trusted for credible and reliable information. The SIFT strategy is quick, simple, and can be applied to various kinds of online content: social media posts, memes, statistics, videos, images, news articles, scholarly articles, etc. TRACE CLAIMS, QUOTES, AND MEDIA BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL CONTEXT SIFT is a quicker, more effective way to evaluate online content than traditional “checklist” approaches (such as "the CRAAP Test"). Some checklist questions you might ask yourself when initially arriving at a webpage: In today’s world, asking yourself these kinds of questions is no longer enough.

Why? You're going to see even more misinformation than usual online this week. Here's one of my favorite methods for making sure you're not taken in by a false rumor: SIFT, pioneered by digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield. More details on each of these steps below - or check out my story on the SIFT method for the BBC, linked here! 1. STOP: When it comes to identifying misinformation, immediacy is not our friend.

Stop. Don't share. Don't comment. Don't, for the love of all that's holy, change your stance on whatever the issue is. And move on to the next step. 2.

INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE: Check the creator's identity with a quick Google. If it's a media outlet, are they reputable and respected, with a clear commitment to verified and independent journalism If it's an individual, what expertise do they have in the subject at hand? What financial ties, political leanings or personal biases could be at play? What has this account posted about in the past? Would you still trust their expertise if they were saying something you disagreed with – or are you elevating them just because they're saying something you feel to be true? 3.

FIND BETTER COVERAGE: See if any reputable news source has reported the same claims. Use a fact-checking site like factcheck.org. If there is a photo, use Google's reverse image search to see where the image comes up online. 4. TRACE THE CLAIM: This last step is meant to help figure out where the claim came from. Again, if it's an image, see if you can find the source with a reverse image source.

If it's a quote, you can search for it in quotations to see where it first appeared. And so on. Crucially, you want to look for whether a photo's original caption and context, or a quote's original speaker and meaning, for example, are the same as what you're seeing now. (Spoiler: They often aren't.) Time-saving tips for each of the steps in the story linked here... but I promise, it only takes a couple of minutes to run. And following these steps just might save you from some real embarrassment (or voter's regret).

The SIFT method helps to check the credibility of online information. It consists of four steps: The method is used in journalism, education and social media, but also has points of criticism, e.g. subjectivity in source evaluation and the time required. Alternatives include the CRAAP test and the Admiralty Codewhich is used by the military to evaluate sources. For the verification of facts, there are renowned Fact check platformsincluding Correctiv, Tagesschau Faktenfinder (Germany) and Snopes, Reuters Fact Check (international).

Conclusion: The SIFT method is a useful tool for media literacy, but should be combined with other verification methods. Reading time: approx. 10 minutes | Authors: Carsten Reffgen The SIFT Method, created by Mike Caulfield, is a way to determine if resources are credible. There is so much information available to us at our fingertips, especially with social media and websites. Establishing the credibility of information can be challenging, but the SIFT method was created to help analyze information that you come across, especially news or other online media.

Below is an explanation of each step as well as videos created by Caulfield that explain each strategy. Practice SIFTing while you learn the method by completing this worksheet. Are you familiar with the website or information source where you're currently reading this information? What do you know about the reputation of the website or the truthfulness of the claim being made? Don't read or share media until you know what it is! The SIFT Method, which was developed by Mike Caulfield (2019), is a four-step approach to evaluating information critically.

This method consists of four key moves: (1) Stop; (2) Investigate the source; (3) Find better coverage; and (4) Trace claims to their original context. By applying this critical framework, you can enhance your ability to assess the credibility of various types of information, identify reliable sources, and make informed decisions about the content you encounter. SIFT provides a valuable addition to or alternative to the CRAAP method. Authority & Credibility – How to Be Credible & Authoritative in Research, Speech & Writing; Citation Guide – Learn How to Cite Sources in Academic and Professional Writing; Research Deepfakes & Misinformation; The CRAAP... The SIFT Method, developed by Mike Caulfield (2019), a research scientist at the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, provides a heuristic for engaging in information evaluation. In his SIFT method, Mike Caulfield emphasizes that the first step in assessing the credibility of a source is to stop and pause before reacting.

This concept aligns with Viktor Frankl’s idea that “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.“ While Frankl’s reflection focuses on personal agency and existential freedom—rooted in his experiences in Nazi concentration camps—Caulfield focuses on pausing in the face of new information. Caulfied argues this practice is crucial whether the information supports your preconceptions or challenges your beliefs. SIFT is an easy four-step process that will help you determine if a source is trustworthy or not.

The Sift Strategy A Four Step Method For Spotting Misinformation

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