In focus False
Media literacy, without the noiseDocumented cases · Sources listed
Look closer
Less heat.
More light.
Claims travel fast. Understanding takes a moment.
We unpack the evidence, explain the techniques,
and help you make up your own mind.
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Start with the evidence
All debunks Real claims, checked
Debunks False
The Pope’s puffer coat was an AI image
The viral March 2023 image was generated with Midjourney. It was not a photograph of Pope Francis.
Debunks False
The Pentagon explosion that did not happen
A fabricated image spread on 22 May 2023. Local emergency services said there was no explosion at or near the Pentagon.
Debunks False
The Zelenskyy surrender video was a deepfake
A manipulated video circulated on 16 March 2022. It was not an authentic instruction to Ukrainian troops.
Debunks False
The highway shark photo predates Hurricane Harvey
The image shared as Houston flood footage in August 2017 was an older composite, not evidence of a shark on that road.
A skill, not a sixth senseYou do not need to be an expert.
Learn the essentials →You do not need to be an expert.
Start with better questions.
Understand the patterns
Explore techniques →Beyond the headline
Practice exampleTechniques
Cherry-picking: the evidence you do not see
Selecting only convenient examples can make almost any pattern look persuasive.
Practice exampleAnalyses
When repetition starts to feel like evidence
A familiar sentence can seem settled even when its supporting evidence has not changed.
Practice exampleResources
A source-checking checklist
Five questions to keep beside you when a claim deserves a closer look.
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