Snopes

Website

Snopes

Founded in 1995

Snopes.com is a website that conducts extensive fact-checking research on popular topics, often chosen based on reader interest. Snopes uses a number of icons to classify content: True, Mostly True, Mixture, Mostly False, False, Unproven, Outdated, Miscaptioned, Correct Attribution, Misattributed, Scan, and Legend.

Snopes is not affiliated with RAND. It was selected for this database because it fits our researchers' inclusion criteria.

Tool type

Verification

Status

Fully operational

Intended users

General public

Cost

Free

Tool focus

This tool is content-focused. It directly evaluates information, such as the authenticity of a photo.

Method or technology

Human implementation

Is the tool automated?

No

Founding organization

Snopes Media Group

Founder/primary contact

David and Barbara Mikkelson

How is this tool working to address disinformation?

This tool aims to fight disinformation by identifying, exploring, and correcting false information, giving people a resource for locating fact-based information.

Is there a connection with tech platforms?

Yes. Facebook uses Snopes as fact-checker for Facebook advertising.

Who is funding the tool?

Revenue is driven by advertising

Are there external evaluations?

Snopes was assessed by IFCN. This assessment evluates the tool's accuracy and objectivity, not the efficacy of the tool against disinformation.