04
Does the image show what they claim?
A photo proves a scene existed, not that the caption is true.
Why it's a trap
We believe our eyes: that's human. A photo feels like proof: “I saw it, so it happened.” But an image never tells the whole story: what's outside the frame, the moment, the place, the caption stuck onto it… all of that can turn an ordinary scene into a scandal, a theatre rehearsal into breaking news.
And no forgery is even needed anymore: most misleading images are authentic photos… of another place, another time, or another subject. Add today's generated images, often very convincing. The move stays the same: don't ask the image whether it looks real. Ask instead where it comes from.
The moves
- Reverse image search: where and when has this image been published before, with what caption?
- Interrogate the frame: what would you see just beside, just before, just after?
- For a possibly generated image: hands, unreadable background text, inconsistent reflections. These are clues, never proof. The origin remains the real test.
- Keep the two questions separate: is the image authentic? AND does the caption say what the image actually shows?
The classic trap
A photo shows a huge queue outside a pharmacy, captioned “total shortage right now”. Reverse search finds the same photo: it was a shop opening, in another country, for a video game launch.
Keep in mind
An image proves the scene, never its caption.
Practise this reflex
Cases in the library train precisely this reflex:
- What should you do? (Health & miracle cures)
- Why should you stay cautious anyway? (Scams & easy money)
- What's the trap here, even though the email looks like it's really from your bank? (Scams & easy money)