Confidence is contagious. Check the claim.

Five prompts to use before you repeat something as fact.

Someone can sound certain and still leave out an important detail. A useful response is to slow down and examine the statement. Here is a short checklist you can use for an article, a video, or even a very confident cat.

1. What, exactly, is being claimed?

Write one clear sentence. Separate measurable statements from opinions, predictions, and jokes. “This is the best app” isn't the same kind of claim as “This app stores your location.”

2. Where did the information come from?

Follow the links. Look for the original document, research, announcement, or firsthand account. Several posts repeating one source are still repeating one source.

3. Does the evidence answer this question?

Check whether the evidence actually supports the wording. An example may show that something is possible without showing that it happens often. A headline may be broader than the findings underneath it.

4. What context is missing?

Look for the date, location, sample, definitions, and limitations. Ask who or what the statement applies to. An accurate description of one situation might not describe another.

5. What would change your mind?

Name the evidence that would make you update your view. If you can't yet tell whether a claim holds up, “I haven't checked this” is a useful answer.

Before you pass it on.

Read your summary once more. Have you kept the original context? Is your wording more confident than the evidence? Share the source so someone else can check it too.

Keep the curiosity going.

Explore more surprising questions with Mika and Guru.