A claim is viral online and you compare it across several independent sources to see if it holds up. Which practice is this?

• A. SIFT Method
• B. Verification
• C. Cross-Referencing
• D. Lateral Reading

Answer: (C)

Cross-referencing involves checking a viral claim against multiple independent sources to see if the information aligns. By comparing what several different outlets, experts, or official statements report, you can see whether the claim is consistently supported or if there are conflicting accounts or omissions. This approach strengthens your conclusion about the claim’s reliability because it looks for independent corroboration rather than relying on a single source.

In this scenario, the key idea is that you’re not just taking one report at face value; you’re seeking multiple, separate sources to verify the claim. That emphasis on cross-checking across different outlets is what makes this practice Cross-referencing. The other terms describe broader processes or related techniques—verification is a general idea of confirming accuracy, lateral reading involves testing credibility by moving across sources while researching, and the SIFT method is a step-by-step framework that can include cross-checking as part of finding better coverage. But the described action of comparing across several independent sources to see if it holds up is precisely cross-referencing.