Avfouting

Avfouting is a term used in online discourse to describe the practice of methodically analyzing and publicly examining audio-visual material to verify claims, expose manipulation, or provide contextualization.

The term blends "AV" (audio-visual) with "outing," in the sense of revealing information to the public.

Common methods include frame-by-frame video inspection, audio waveform analysis, subtitle and caption verification, metadata checks, cross-referencing with other sources, and archiving originals.

Avfouting is used in journalism, fact-checking, and online communities around politics, entertainment, and protest to challenge misleading clips and claims.

Critics note that it can be labor-intensive and prone to misinterpretation if context is missing, and raises privacy concerns when content involves private individuals.

Ethical practice emphasizes transparency, corroboration, and respect for rights, with avfouting viewed as a tool for verification rather than harassment.

Related terms include media literacy, fact-checking, and misinformation.