🔎 General Debunking & Myth Busting

Curated tools and references to help you evaluate everyday claims, expose viral myths, and separate fact from fiction.

Use this page when you see a “shocking fact,” a viral story, or a bold statement that doesn’t quite feel right.

✅ General Fact-Checking

Snopes — One of the oldest and most comprehensive debunking sites for internet rumors, viral posts, and urban legends.
🌐 https://www.snopes.com

FactCheck.org — Nonpartisan fact-checking organization covering politics, science, and viral misinformation. ✔IFCN-Verified
🌐 https://www.factcheck.org

PolitiFact — Checks claims from officials, media, and social posts with a transparent “Truth-O-Meter” rating system. ✔IFCN-Verified
🌐 https://www.politifact.com

The Washington Post Fact Checker — Investigates widely shared claims and provides context, sources, and Pinocchio ratings. ✔IFCN-Verified
🌐 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/

🧵 Viral Myths & Rumors

Truth or Fiction — Specialized in debunking copy-and-paste posts, “share if you agree” content, chain emails, and long-circulating hoaxes.
🌐 https://www.truthorfiction.com

Hoaxy — Visualizes how claims spread across social platforms, showing how misinformation gains traction (useful for seeing echo-chambers and copy-paste networks).
🌐 https://hoaxy.osome.iu.edu

Media Bias/Fact Check — Not a fact-checker; helps you quickly gauge a source’s reliability and political bias before you trust or share it.
🌐 https://mediabiasfactcheck.com

🧠 Sam’s Takes (Quick Reminders)

If you haven’t verified it, don’t amplify it. Most false claims spread because people share first and check later.

Search the exact claim in quotes. If only one site is saying it — or many sites repeat the same wording — treat it as unverified.

Cross-check independently. Look for confirmation from multiple, unrelated outlets. Convergence = confidence.

Watch the wording. Sensational headlines, all-caps warnings, “secret cure,” “they don’t want you to know,” "one weird trick," and similar phrases are classic red flags.

Prefer vetted sources. When possible, start with ✔IFCN-Verified fact-checkers for higher trust and clear sourcing.