TruthSnap is a lightweight, browser-based tool that simulates fake news detection using handcrafted rules.
It analyzes input text and flags potential signs of misinformation — all without external APIs or machine learning.
For a quick overview of the project, check out the presentation here.
This short deck outlines the core idea behind TruthSnap.
It's intended for stakeholders, collaborators, and anyone interested in the project's vision and potential impact.
Misinformation spreads faster than facts — especially when disguised as emotional, exaggerated, or vague content.
Most readers struggle to spot manipulation in headlines, articles, or viral posts.
TruthSnap offers a quick “gut check” for written content. It simulates how media experts or fact-checkers might evaluate language cues, tone, and structure using a rule-based system:
- Emotional intensity or exaggerated punctuation
- Clickbait triggers (all-caps, exclamations, absolutes)
- Vague or unverifiable sources
- Common conspiracy-related keywords
- Known patterns of misinformation
- Paste a news excerpt or social media post
- Click Analyze
- Receive a risk label and reasoning:
- ✅ Likely Trustworthy
⚠️ Needs Caution- ❌ Potentially Misleading
- Instant rule-based analysis (no dependencies)
- Fully runs in the browser — no login or data storage
- Mobile-responsive interface
- Debug mode for transparency
- Clear button to reset input instantly
- HTML5 – semantic layout
- CSS3 – responsive, accessible UI
- JavaScript – lightweight detection logic
- GitHub Pages – live hosting & open source
TruthSnap is a simulation, not a definitive detector.
It is based on heuristic rules, meaning:
- Some false claims may pass as neutral
- Some true claims may be flagged
- No connection to real-time fact-checking databases
👉 Best used as a tool for awareness, education, or media literacy exercises.
Future improvements are listed in FUTURE.md, including:
- Word frequency heatmap
- Real-time content scraping
- User feedback learning loop
- NLP & AI integration
- Multilingual support
git clone https://github.com/augusto-mate/truthsnap.git
cd truthsnap
# Open index.html in your browserThis project is under the MIT License
Augusto Mate
Frontend Developer passionate about tools that empower critical thinking.
🚀 Live Demo: TruthSnap on GitHub Pages