A four-step process to transform everyone into a fact-checker

Our world is awash with misinformation. It undermines public trust in institutions and credible sources, influences decision-making and exacerbates social and political polarisation. It poses serious risks to public health and can incite violence or civil unrest. 

How can we combat this growing threat? One approach is to support members of the public to improve their media literacy, using fact-checking initiatives and responsible communication. In a university setting, our goal is to conduct research on misinformation to make a meaningful impact on the community. It’s important for higher education institutions to carefully consider which specific strategies we teach members of the public, as well as our students, to effectively tackle misinformation.

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To do this, HKBU Fact Check connects with the public through its website, social media and news outlets, and regularly hosts academic conferences, public exhibitions and gives talks at elementary and secondary schools. The unit also partners with the university’s general education course “Fact-checking misinformation, disinformation and fake news” to provide students with fact-checking and critical thinking skills.

In 2019, Mike Caulfield developed the SIFT (Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace) strategy, a framework to evaluate information credibility. It is a helpful tool, used by many. However, over five years of increasingly more sophisticated misinformation, and through insights into the public use of SIFT, I have developed a revised approach that incorporates the procedures that professional fact-checkers use in their daily routines. 

This new strategy consists of four distinct steps, allowing students to decide how far they want to interrogate information, based on their available time and the effort they are willing to invest in the fact-checking process. This skill set is crucial for students, enabling them to find, evaluate and use information effectively in academic, professional and personal contexts. It supports academic success by fostering critical thinking, independent research and the use of credible sources. These interdisciplinary skills prepare students for the workforce and empower lifelong learning, helping them make informed decisions and engage responsibly in a world filled with disinformation. Since this strategy involves four essential components, it is named the “4-Check” strategy.

1. Check for potential pitfalls

Assessing the potential pitfalls of misinformation is crucial in today’s information landscape, where motivated reasoning can lead individuals to accept false narratives that align with their beliefs. Clickbait headlines often lure readers into misleading content online, while memes and videos can distort facts for emotional impact. Information from unknown sources may lack credibility and outdated images can misrepresent current events. 

By being aware of and able to evaluate these risks, individuals can identify negative outcomes and develop strategies to mitigate them. This approach fosters critical thinking and information literacy, empowering individuals to navigate complex information more effectively. When people recognise these risks, whether encountering information with an unidentified author or seeing eye-catching headlines, we expect them to remain alert and critically evaluate suspicious details.

2. Check whether it is a fact or opinion

Before investigating any information, individuals must discern whether the suspicious information they encounter is a fact or an opinion. Objective facts are verifiable statements that can be proven true or false through evidence (eg, “The unemployment rate in the US was 3.7 per cent  in 2023”), whereas opinions are subjective beliefs that lack concrete support (eg, “The unemployment rate reflects poor government policies”). Subjective opinions cannot be investigated in the same manner as factual claims. 

Once a claim is identified as factual, individuals can proceed with further investigation. However, facts and opinions can often be intertwined, making this step straightforward in theory, but potentially complex in practice.

3. Check related information 

After confirming that a claim is verifiable, the next step is to seek related information to determine whether the suspicious information has any basis and relevant evidence. By answering questions and clarifying uncertainties, individuals can gather pertinent data to support or reject fact-based conclusions. 

Consult multiple sources and rely only on credible ones, such as official websites, reputable news outlets and fact-checking organisations. Often, the top search results may not be reliable, so individuals must learn to identify credible sources. This approach helps in making informed assessments and enables individuals to determine whether information is supported by credible evidence.

4. Check the original information source 

I recommend students trace and verify the original source of information to understand the root cause of an issue or claim. This step can be conducted using search engines for textual claims and reverse image search engines, such as Google Images, TinEye, Yandex and Baidu Images, for visual claims. 

While textual investigation is generally straightforward, image searches can sometimes be more challenging. All platforms provide easy interfaces with a one-click drag-and-search function. Yandex is particularly effective for images related to Russia, and Baidu Images excels with content from mainland China. TinEye is unique because it allows users to sort results chronologically from the oldest to the newest appearance on the internet, helping to identify when an image first appeared online. These methods for tracing the origin of suspicious information can help verify authenticity and uncover the context behind the information, allowing for a more informed analysis.

The 4-Check strategy equips students and members of the public with effective techniques to combat misinformation. This approach will further our efforts to promote a more informed and literate society, providing individuals with the essential tools to develop well-informed opinions and evidence-based decisions.

Stephanie Jean Tsang is assistant professor in the department of communications at Hong Kong Baptist University.

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