Home / Tricks / Deliberate vagueness
Deliberate vagueness
Staying vague so the claim can't be checked.
In our replies we call it: Stays vague
What it means
Deliberately vague claims ("some people say", "there are reports", "something big is coming") avoid names, dates and numbers, so they can never be proven wrong.
How to spot it in a Reel
- "Sources say" with no source
- No names, dates, places or numbers
- Hints at a secret without saying what it is
Examples
- "Big revelations coming about a top leader, share before it's deleted."
- "Reports say thousands were affected", with no report named.
Why it doesn't hold up
A claim that can't be checked shouldn't be believed or shared. Real information comes with details.
What to say back
"Who, what, when, where? Which report?"
Questions
Why are vague claims shared so much?
They're hard to debunk, and they let readers fill in their own fears.
Check a Reel for this trick
Send any Reel to @checkthis.chat on Instagram. If it uses this trick, the reply names it and shows where it happens.
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