Verify a viral claim before sharing it
Trace the original statement, date and supporting evidence instead of counting reposts.
Follow the method ↓
The answer in 30 seconds
A widely shared claim can combine a real image, an old event and a new caption. Reposts often copy one source, so their number does not amount to independent confirmation.
Pause, preserve the exact claim, trace its earliest identifiable source, check the date and evidence, and compare an independent source before repeating it with an appropriate level of certainty.
Examples to adapt
Search the image separately and compare its original caption with the new one.
Open the underlying report and compare its population and period with the post.
Check the responsible agency through its known website rather than an address in the forwarded message.
Follow the method
- 1Write the claim
Separate the asserted fact from comments, reactions and conclusions.
- 2Find provenance
Locate the original publisher, image or document; note the earliest verifiable publication.
- 3Inspect evidence
Check date, place, method and the actual passage supporting the statement.
- 4Compare independently
Find a second competent source that did not merely repeat the same post.
- 5Share responsibly
State what is confirmed, uncertain or wrong, and link to the supporting source.
Workshop: preserve the claim before sharing
Record the exact wording, the date you saw it and the message link. Search for an earlier publication and the claimed primary source. If an image or video is central, check whether it circulated in connection with another event.
Many shares or repeated posts are not independent confirmation. If the original source cannot be found, state that uncertainty instead of declaring the claim true or false.
A checklist to keep
Use these checks to record what you found. The grid supports a decision; it does not make one for you.
| Check | What to examine | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Claim | What exactly is asserted? | Write |
| Origin | Who first published the evidence? | Trace |
| Date | When did the event and post occur? | Separate |
| Evidence | Does it support the wording? | Read |
| Independence | Is confirmation truly separate? | Check |
Read the checklist directly in the table.
What to check
Many reposts can originate from one error.
A true image can carry a false caption.
Absence of a quick confirmation does not by itself disprove a claim.
Common questions
Is a fact-check headline enough?
Read its evidence and date, especially if the claim has changed since publication.
What if the matter is urgent?
Use an official or otherwise competent source directly and avoid amplifying an unverified instruction.
Sources and documentation
Documentation consulted on . Examples are illustrative; interfaces and results may change.
Resolve the next uncertainty
Two articles can rely on the same evidence. Group repeated reports by original document before presenting agreement as corroboration.
Apply this method to a wider task
Continue with a specialist resource
These websites belong to our network. Each has its own editorial scope; check its current information before relying on it.
Reference record for this resource
Identify the publisher, official destination and practical checks before using the service.
Read the AFP Factuel record →