Read Laterally to Uncover the Truth Online

When you research online, do you read an article from top to bottom? That’s vertical reading, and it's not enough to spot misinformation. Instead, you should be reading laterally.

Lateral reading means leaving a website you've just landed on to open other tabs in your browser. You'll use these new tabs to find out more about the original source, its author, and its claims before you invest time in reading the content. Professional fact-checkers use this method to quickly and effectively evaluate online information.

How to Read Laterally: 3 Key Steps

1. Open New Tabs

Before you read the article or watch the video, stop. Open a new browser tab. Don't waste time on the page itself until you've verified who is behind it.

2. Investigate the Source

Your first question should always be: Who is behind this information? In your new tab, search for the name of the website, organization, or company.

Look for outside perspectives. What do other reliable sources say about them? A Wikipedia page, news articles from established outlets, or reviews from other experts can provide crucial context.
Ask critical questions:
What is this organization’s mission or "About Us" page?
- Does it have a reputation for accuracy or bias?
- Who funds this source? Understanding its financial backing can reveal its agenda.

3. Find the Original Source

Much of what we see online is repeated, repurposed, or quoted from another place. Your goal is to trace information back to its original context to see if it’s being presented accurately.

Check the claims. If an article cites a study or an expert, leave the article and find that original study or expert yourself. Does the original source actually say what the article claims it does?
Look for better coverage. Search for the topic to see what other, more authoritative sources are saying. Is this a widely accepted fact or a fringe theory? Comparing coverage helps you see the bigger picture.

Why Lateral Reading Works

It's Efficient: You can often uncover a biased or unreliable source in just a minute or two, saving you from reading and trusting bad information.
It Provides Context: Vertical reading only shows you what the source wants you to see. Lateral reading reveals the source's reputation, funding, and potential biases.
It Focuses on Authority: Instead of trying to analyze the article's content on your own, you are verifying the credibility of the source first. If the source isn't credible, neither is the information.

The next time you land on an unfamiliar site, don't get misled. Stop, open a new tab, and start reading laterally.