Write down the exact claim. “This is weird” is not a claim. “Restaurant X secretly serves Y” is.
Find the original source. Screenshots and stitched clips often hide dates, captions and context.
Check the date and location. Old footage is routinely recycled as a new event.
Look for primary evidence. Documents, direct statements, original footage, regulatory records or data tied to the actual claim beat anonymous reposts.
Corroborate independently. Ten sites copying the same post are still one source.
Choose the verdict that the evidence earns. Verified, Misleading, Likely AI, Staged/Manipulated, Unverified or False.