Who Actually Made This Claim?

Introduction

When a claim goes viral, the post in your feed is often the last link in a much longer chain. A statistic may have started in a research paper, passed through a news article, been summarised by a blog, turned into a screenshot, reposted on several platforms, and finally reached you stripped of context. Finding the original source is one of the most useful habits in lateral reading because trust often changes when you discover who actually made the claim, when it was made, and what was left out along the way. Professional fact-checkers routinely leave the shared post behind and trace claims back to their origin rather than evaluating only the version that happens to be circulating. [Inquiry Group]cor.inquirygroup.orgInquiry GroupTeaching Lateral Reading | CORBy observing fact checkers, we found that the best way to learn about a website is lateral rea…

The goal is not to prove a claim true or false immediately. The goal is to answer a simpler question first: who actually made this claim?

Shared Post Versus Original Source

A viral post is rarely the source. It is usually a container.

Consider a common chain:

1. A government agency releases a report.
2. A journalist writes a story about the report.
3. A commentator highlights one finding.
4. A social media account screenshots the commentary.
5. Thousands of users share the screenshot.

By the time most people encounter the claim, they are several steps removed from the original evidence.

This is why the “T” in the SIFT framework—Trace claims, quotes, and media to the original source—is so important. Instead of evaluating the repost, you work backwards toward the earliest identifiable version. [wisconsin.pressbooks.pub]pressbooks.pubEvaluating Sources – Information Literacy: A Practical Guide SIFT stands for: StopInvestigate the source with lateral reading. Find trusted coverage. Trace claims, quotes, and media to the original source. We'll

When tracing a claim, ask:

Often the original source contains qualifications that disappeared during sharing. A study may discuss a limited sample, a politician’s quote may be clipped from a longer answer, or a photograph may have been taken years earlier than the viral caption suggests. Reuters fact-check investigations frequently find that old images, videos, and statements are recirculated with new descriptions that change their meaning. [Reuters]reuters.comReuters Fact CheckReuters Fact Check addresses online misinformation with coverage that maintains accuracy, integrity and impartia…

Account Signals That Mislead Readers

Many people try to judge a claim by judging the account that shared it. While account information can be useful, it is easy to overvalue.

A large follower count does not establish expertise. Verification badges, professional graphics, emotional certainty, and confident language can create an impression of authority without proving anything about the underlying claim. Research on lateral reading found that less experienced readers often spend time examining the appearance of a source, while professional fact-checkers move quickly to independent verification. [SSRN]papers.ssrn.comReading Less and Learning More When Evaluating Digital…by S Wineburg · 2019 · Cited by 79 — In contrast, fact checkers read latera…

Several account signals deserve caution:

Reposted screenshots

A screenshot removes context. The original post may have been edited, deleted, satirical, or fabricated entirely. Screenshots are especially difficult because they often prevent readers from checking timestamps, replies, or account history. Researchers studying misattributed social media posts note that screenshots make it easier for false attributions to spread. [arXiv]arxiv.orgDid They Really Tweet That? Querying Fact-Checking Sites and Politwoops to Determine Tweet MisattributionNovember 17, 2022…Published: November 17, 2022

Aggregator accounts

Many viral accounts specialise in collecting material from elsewhere. They may be useful distributors, but they are rarely primary sources. If an account repeatedly posts “breaking” information without showing where it originated, treat it as a relay station rather than an authority.

Anonymous or newly created accounts

An anonymous source is not automatically wrong, but anonymity removes a layer of accountability. When a major claim depends entirely on a source whose identity cannot be verified, the need to find independent confirmation becomes much greater.

The key question remains the same: even if this account shared the claim, where did the information come from originally?

Quick Searches That Reveal Origin and Ownership

Finding the original source is often faster than people expect.

Search the exact wording

If a claim includes a distinctive sentence, statistic, or quotation, place a unique phrase inside quotation marks in a search engine.

This can reveal:

• Earlier versions of the claim
• News coverage discussing it [reuters.com]reuters.comReuters Fact CheckReuters Fact Check addresses online misinformation with coverage that maintains accuracy, integrity and impartia…
• Fact-checks
• Original publications

If many results repeat the same wording but all trace back to one article, you may have found the source.

Search the person or organisation behind the claim

If a report is attributed to an institute, foundation, expert, or research group, open a new tab and investigate that entity separately.

Professional fact-checkers frequently use this lateral-reading approach because it quickly reveals whether an organisation is widely recognised, newly created, politically affiliated, commercially motivated, or frequently criticised for inaccuracies. [Inquiry Group]cor.inquirygroup.orgInquiry GroupTeaching Lateral Reading | CORBy observing fact checkers, we found that the best way to learn about a website is lateral rea…

Follow citations backward

If an article says “according to a study”, do not stop there.

Look for:

A surprising number of viral claims collapse during this step because the cited source says something narrower than the social media summary suggests. Fact-checking guides consistently recommend opening the original study, transcript, dataset, or document whenever possible. [Model Diplomat]modeldiplomat.comModel DiplomatFact-Checking MethodologyImage? Reverse image search (see below). Triangulate. No single source is enough. Two or three ind…

When the Claim Is a Photo or Video

Visual content often travels farther from its source than text.

A dramatic image may be reshared thousands of times with different captions. A video from one country may be relabelled as an event in another. In many misinformation cases, the visual itself is real but the accompanying description is false. Reuters fact-checks regularly document examples where genuine images or videos are attached to incorrect narratives. [Reuters]reuters.comReuters Fact CheckReuters Fact Check addresses online misinformation with coverage that maintains accuracy, integrity and impartia…

To trace visual content:

Reverse image searches can often reveal that a supposedly current image first appeared years earlier. Fact-checkers and digital investigators rely heavily on this technique when verifying visual claims. [blog.google+2Pic Detective]blog.google3 new ways to check images and sources onlineFact Check Explorer gives journalists and fact checkers a deeper way to learn about an image or topic.Read more…

One useful mindset is to separate two questions:

1. Is the image authentic?
2. Is the caption accurate?

Many viral posts fail on the second question even when the image itself is genuine.

Ownership Matters More Than Popularity

A claim’s popularity tells you almost nothing about its origin.

Thousands of shares can be generated by repetition, recommendation algorithms, emotional reactions, or coordinated amplification. What matters more is ownership: who produced the information in the first place?

When you locate the original source, you can evaluate things that are invisible in a repost:

• Expertise and credentials
• Evidence provided
• Funding or affiliations
• Publication date
• Corrections or updates
• Scope and limitations

This shift—from asking “How many people shared this?” to “Who first made this claim?”—is one of the most valuable habits in critical thinking online.

A Practical Three-Minute Source Trail

For most viral claims, a quick source-tracing routine looks like this:

1. Stop before sharing.
2. Identify whether the post is original or reposted.
3. Search a distinctive phrase, quote, or statistic.
4. Find the earliest identifiable publication.
5. Trace any cited evidence back another step if necessary.
6. Check whether reputable reporting or fact-checking organisations describe the same source and context. wisconsin.pressbooks.pub+2Poynter Institute

You do not need to become an investigator to benefit from lateral reading. Often a few targeted searches are enough to reveal that a viral post is not the source at all—and that the real source tells a different story.

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to Who Actually Made This Claim?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

Book

Calling Bullshit

By Carl T. Bergstrom, Jevin D. West

Promotes source scrutiny and evidence tracing.

See on Amazon

Book

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

By Dr. Steven Novella

Helps readers evaluate claims before accepting them.

See on Amazon

Book

News and How to Use It

By Alan Rusbridger, Samuel West

First published 2021.

See on Amazon

Book

Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World

By Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West

Promotes source scrutiny and evidence tracing.

See on Amazon

Browse more on Amazon: Calling Bullshit The Skeptics' to the Universe books News and How to Use It

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Endnotes

1. Source: papers.ssrn.com
   Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3048994
   Source snippet

   Reading Less and Learning More When Evaluating Digital...by S Wineburg · 2019 · Cited by 79 — In contrast, fact checkers read latera...

2. Source: reuters.com
   Link: https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/
   Source snippet

   Reuters Fact CheckReuters Fact Check addresses online misinformation with coverage that maintains accuracy, integrity and impartia...

3. Source: reuters.com
   Link: https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/transgender-woman-misidentified-trump-shooter-2024-07-24/
   Source snippet

   The misinformation originated from an anonymous post on 4chan, an online message board, which claimed the shooter was transgender. This c...

4. Source: arxiv.org
   Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.09681
   Source snippet

   Did They Really Tweet That? Querying Fact-Checking Sites and Politwoops to Determine Tweet MisattributionNovember 17, 2022...

   Published: November 17, 2022

5. Source: blog.google
   Title: 3 new ways to check images and sources online
   Link: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/google-search-new-fact-checking-features/
   Source snippet

   Fact Check Explorer gives journalists and fact checkers a deeper way to learn about an image or topic.Read more...

6. Source: poynter.org
   Title: lateral reading the best media literacy tip to vet credible sources
   Link: https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/media-literacy/2023/lateral-reading-the-best-media-literacy-tip-to-vet-credible-sources/
   Source snippet

   Poynter InstituteLateral reading: The best media literacy tip to vet credible...20 Jul 2023 — We teach people digital media literacy and...

7. Source: toolbox.google.com
   Link: https://toolbox.google.com/factcheck/about
   Source snippet

   Google ToolboxAbout Fact Check ToolsThis tool allows you to easily browse and search for fact checks. For example, you can search for a p...

8. Source: pressbooks.pub
   Title: students and disinformation
   Link: https://pressbooks.pub/introtocollegeresearch/chapter/students-and-disinformation/
   Source snippet

   Web Evaluation Skills: A “Bleak” Track RecordHow are we doing when it comes to recognizing disinformation and navigating the information...

9. Source: cor.inquirygroup.org
   Link: https://cor.inquirygroup.org/curriculum/collections/teaching-lateral-reading/
   Source snippet

   Inquiry GroupTeaching Lateral Reading | CORBy observing fact checkers, we found that the best way to learn about a website is lateral rea...

10. Source: modeldiplomat.com
    Link: https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/media/resources/fact-checking/complete-fact-checking-guide
    Source snippet

    Model DiplomatFact-Checking MethodologyImage? Reverse image search (see below). Triangulate. No single source is enough. Two or three ind...

11. Source: picdetective.com
    Link: https://picdetective.com/blog/reverse-image-search-identify-fake-news-misinformation
    Source snippet

    Pic DetectiveSpot Fake News and Misinformation with Reverse Image...23 Jan 2026 — Reverse image search verifies whether an image is auth...

12. Source: libguides.milton.edu
    Title: lateral reading
    Link: https://libguides.milton.edu/lateral-reading
    Source snippet

    milton.eduLIB: Source Evaluation: Lateral Reading - Resource Guides5 Mar 2026 — A recent study from the Stanford History Education Group...

13. Source: x.com
    Link: https://x.com/ReutersFacts

14. Source: libguides.chowan.edu
    Link: https://libguides.chowan.edu/evaluate
    Source snippet

    Whitaker Library18 Sept 2024 — A lot of the SIFT strategies use a concept called lateral reading. That is doing an internet search to see...

15. Source: scienceofboosting.org
    Title: Lateral Reading
    Link: https://www.scienceofboosting.org/project/lateral-reading/
    Source snippet

    Boosting4 May 2023 — This short video from the Stanford History Education Group explains how to use lateral reading and outlines the rese...

    Published: May 2023

16. Source: libguides.cmich.edu
    Link: https://libguides.cmich.edu/web_research/lateral
    Source snippet

    Research: Lateral Reading and SIFT12 Dec 2024 — SIFT stands for Stop; Investigate the source; Find better coverage; and Trace claims, quo...

17. Source: libguides.clackamas.edu
    Link: https://libguides.clackamas.edu/research-help/sift
    Source snippet

    Research help18 May 2026 — The final step is to Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to their Original Context. When an article references a q...

    Published: May 2026

Additional References

1. Source: misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu
   Link: https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/lateral-reading-college-students-learn-to-critically-evaluate-internet-sources-in-an-online-course/
   Source snippet

   reading: College students learn to critically...23 Feb 2021 — A small body of research suggests that students in face-to-face settings c...

2. Source: theverge.com
   Link: https://www.theverge.com/tech/888303/photo-video-fake-news-verification-nyt-bellingway
   Source snippet

   Trusted digital investigators like The New York Times, Bellingcat, and Indicator rely on rigorous verification protocols to discern real...

3. Source: youtube.com
   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHNprb2hgzU
   Source snippet

   Sort Fact from Fiction Online with Lateral ReadingShe explains the right approach at first but gives far too much credit to a method (lat...

4. Source: ed.stanford.edu
   Link: https://ed.stanford.edu/news/it-doesn-t-take-long-learn-how-spot-misinformation-online-stanford-study-finds
   Source snippet

   doesn't take long to learn how to spot misinformation online...19 Apr 2022 — It doesn't take long to learn how to spot misinformation on...

5. Source: researchgate.net
   Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349535570_Lateral_reading_College_students_learn_to_critically_evaluate_internet_sources_in_an_online_course
   Source snippet

   an improve at judging the credibility of online sources...

6. Source: thecrashcourse.com
   Title: Check Yourself with Lateral Reading
   Link: https://thecrashcourse.com/courses/check-yourself-with-lateral-reading-crash-course-navigating-digital-information-3/
   Source snippet

   Crash CourseJohn Green is going to teach you how to read laterally, using multiple tabs in your browser to look stuff up and fact-check a...

7. Source: libguides.csun.edu
   Title: reading laterally fact checking
   Link: https://libguides.csun.edu/journalism/reading-laterally-fact-checking
   Source snippet

   csun.eduJournalism: Reading Laterally for Fact Checking - LibGuides8 days ago — Video: Stanford History Education Group. This video provi...

8. Source: wittenberg.libguides.com
   Title: Wittenberg University Lib Guides Lateral Reading / SIFT Method
   Link: https://wittenberg.libguides.com/c.php?g=1484462&p=11070234
   Source snippet

   Does the original source say the same things as the re-reporting you read first? Adapted...

9. Source: instagram.com
   Title: Old photos are recycled
   Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXPD_msDSVk/
   Source snippet

   Context is twisted. Narratives are...But you can verify. This simple 6-step guide to Google Reverse Image Search helps you trace where a...

10. Source: hapgood.us
    Title: SIFT (The Four Moves)
    Link: https://hapgood.us/2019/06/19/sift-the-four-moves/
    Source snippet

    19 Jun 2019 — We call the “things to do” moves and there are four of them: The four moves: Stop, Investigate the source, find bett...