Investigate a viral claim
Turn a shared post into a timeline, an identified origin and a conclusion matched to the evidence.
Prepare the task
The result should distinguish confirmed, disproved and unresolved points. Repetition does not replace the original evidence.
- Exact claim without broadening it
- Initial link and date received
- Original image or document when accessible
Follow the method
- 1Isolate the proposition
Separate the alleged fact from commentary. Record place, date and person, then compare the headline with the body.
- 2Reconstruct circulation
Find the earliest identifiable publications and compare dates. For an image, investigate whether it appeared earlier in another context.
- 3Write without overclaiming
Connect each finding to a source actually read. Note corrections and what the documents cannot establish.
An old photo accompanies a recent event: establish the image’s origin without pretending this disproves every other statement in the post.
Choose the resource for the missing evidence
The directory records identify publishers and link to their official services. Choose by task; inclusion does not guarantee an outcome.
| Task | Resource | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Compare dated coverage | Franceinfo | Identify cited sources and updates. |
| Find older broadcast context | INA | Check programme and recording date. |
| Build a critical reading | CLEMI | Adapt the method to the actual document. |
Compare these directory resources side by side →
A completed record to understand the method
Fictional example: values, times and situations below demonstrate how to document a decision. They do not describe an actual service or application.
| Element | Observation in the example | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Page A | Cites a press release | Record the document’s origin |
| Page B | Repeats the same release | Do not add an independent confirmation |
| Photo C | Predates the alleged event | Separate the image’s authenticity from its current caption |
Keep a useful record
Use these fields in your own notes. This page does not collect your documents or personal details.
- Bounded claim
- Timeline: event, publication and update
- Origin and independent sources consulted
- Conclusion and remaining uncertainty
Read these points directly on this page.
If the original is missing or sources remain incompatible, preserve uncertainty and avoid affirmative reposting.
Common questions
Do ten articles mean ten confirmations?
Not when they repeat the same agency report or press release.
Does an archive prove the whole story?
It documents a preserved version; inspect its coverage and context.
The screenshot has no link. Where should I start?
Pick a distinctive phrase, a name and a visible date. Search them separately, then compare any result with the whole screenshot: title, author and context may have been cropped. Record that the origin was not found if you cannot identify the initial publication.
A video was uploaded today. Is the scene recent?
Separate upload date from the date of the scene. Look for an earlier version and examine visible location or seasonal clues without treating one clue as proof. Keep publication and event dates as separate fields in your notes.