Special formats

How to trace an image from a shared-link preview

Open the linked article and check whether the preview image actually appears there. Social previews can use a separate promotional image or retain an older version after a page changes.

Note the shared URL, preview caption and observation date. Avoid treating the account sharing the link as the creator of the preview image.

Follow the publisher

  1. Open the destination through normal access.
  2. Compare its header image and credits.
  3. Search the preview crop if the source remains unclear.
  4. Record whether the preview is current or stale.

An article about an event may use a generic archive photograph in its preview. The image does not necessarily depict the specific incident named in the headline.

Verify the claim separately

Read the article before deciding that the picture confirms the headline. If the preview and page differ, state that mismatch rather than assuming deception. For reuse permission, locate the image's actual credit or asset record; the link-sharing interface itself does not provide a licence.

Continue with finding an original image source.

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