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    Don't Get Bunked!

    Be Your Own Debunker

    Scroll down for free online debunking resources.

    Author Sam McCollough shares debunking resources and tips from his book (and other sources) DEBUNK: Arm Yourself With the Tenets of Critical Thinking (available on Amazon), which gives readers a toolkit for spotting misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and deep fakes.

    I think it is so important that people be empowered to be their own debunkers that I am providing this list of resources for you to use for free.

    Please share it on your preferred social media platforms, and send me a note below if you find something out-of-date on here or if you know of another resource that I should consider adding.

    Thank you, and happy debunking!

    Sam

  • Sneak Peeks & Other Videos

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  • Free Debunking Resources

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    General Debunking & Myth Busting

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    Debunking Outdated Science and Pseudoscience

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     Medicine

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    Internet Hoaxes

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    Political Fact Checking

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    Fake News

    FactCheck.org Debunking Fake News
    NPR – Fake Or Real? How To Self-Check The News And Get The Facts

    False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and/or Satirical “News” Sources (contains a terrific list of sites with ratings,such as “fake,” “satire,” “hate,” “unreliable,” “junksci” and “unknown.”) This snapshot is somewhat disheartening when you look at how few sites are marked as “reliable.

    Wikipedia List of fake news websites

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    Deep Fakes

    For images, you can do a reverse search on Google: right-click the image (or tap & hold on mobile), copy the URL, and go to Google Images to find out where it came from. Then, see the resources above to find if the site is legitimate or not. I have heard that TinEye is even better than Google at spotting fakes.

    Sensity AI: Best Deepfake Detection Software in 2025

    CloudSEK: Scan for suspicious deepfakes using CloudSEK's Community Platform

    There is more information and tactics in the book, but this list should help you be your own debunker.

    Don't get bunked!

    Sam

    *I am aware of the kerfuffle at Snopes. One of the founders committed multiple acts of plagiarism in an attempt to increase web traffic (if you were told that it was something else, e.g., that he made up stories to support ratings, you've been bunked). They barred him from publishing anything else, retracted all of the stories, and issued an apology. I still consider Snopes to be a reliable debunking resource.

  • About DEBUNK

    The reference needed for today's world

    The invention and widespread use of computers, and especially the proliferation of the Internet, brought us into a time when ordinary people have immediate access to more information than professors, librarians, and heads of state had access to only a short time ago. This is empowering, but it is also dangerous–the Information Age is also the Misinformation and Disinformation Age, and it is easier to find bad information on the Internet than good. Add to that the entities that have been popping up seemingly with the express purpose of disseminating fake news and the recent invention of deep fakes that are becoming harder and harder to detect, and the need for critical thinking, which provides a toolkit for spotting bunk, becomes more and more vital.

    This book is that toolkit.

  • About Sam

    Sam started his journey of understanding the world as it is in the late 1970s when he first read Carl Sagan's The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence.

    He earned his Bachelors of English with a minor in History cum laude from the University of Maryland University College (now University of Maryland Global Campus) in 1992.

    Sam has spent the past 30+ years educating himself with countless science and other books written for the layman on subjects as diverse as cosmology, physics, biology, anthropology, psychology and philosophy.

    He saw a need for a book about the Tenets of Critical Thinking because of the volume of misinformation and disinformation, and now fake news and deep fakes that overwhelm us every day.

    Sam has been teaching adults and designing and writing instructional materials for 25+ years.

  • Get in Touch

    Connect, collaborate, and share your thoughts

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    Author Inquiries

    For media requests, interviews, or speaking engagements, contact Sam for further information.

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    Reader Feedback

    Share your thoughts, feedback, and reviews with Sam–your input is invaluable and greatly appreciated.

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    Collaboration Opportunities

    Explore potential collaboration opportunities with Sam, whether it's for literary projects or creative ventures.

  • Contact

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    Help me to share these free debunking resources far and wide by sharing to your favorite social media platforms.

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