The 10 reflexes
Ten questions, always the same, that defeat most traps. Read them in order or pick one: each stands on its own.
Who is speaking?
An anonymous account, a well-meaning cousin, a newsroom, a salesman: the same sentence doesn't weigh the same depending on the mouth it comes from.
What's the source?
A screenshot, a vague “studies show”, an article quoting an article: information travels far from its source. The move: trace it back to the original document.
What's the date?
Disaster photos, alerts, promotions, decisions: old content resurfaces constantly as if it were new. Always find the date, and ask whether the context has changed.
Does the image show what they claim?
Cropped, taken out of context, retouched or generated: an image rarely “speaks for itself”. Question its caption, and trace its origin.
Who else is saying it?
The professionals' move: lateral reading. If a huge event appears in only ONE post, that's the signal to wait, not to share.
Too good to be true?
The universal cure, the effortless payday, the ultimate scandal: the sheer size of a claim is itself a signal. Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence.
What is it selling me?
A product, clicks, subscriptions, outrage: asking who profits from the message changes everything. It isn't always money: attention and indignation sell too.
Is the expert really an expert?
A white coat, a “doctor”, an “independent researcher”: authority is easy to imitate. Check the actual field, the institution, and what other specialists say.
Does the number have context?
“+100%”, “thousands”, “a record”: a number impresses, but without a baseline, a scale and a source it measures nothing. Three questions put it back in its place.
What if I'm the one who's wrong?
We share faster whatever proves us right. The last reflex turns towards us: do I believe this because it's solid, or because it suits me?