Institutional shielding
Hides a claim behind an institution's name without linking to specific evidence.
Specimen
Studies show that screen time is harmful to developing brains.
Fabricated passage — teaching example designed for clarity.
institutional shielding — 'studies' invoked as collective authority; nothing specific cited
Dissection
Studies show that screen time is harmful to developing brains.
- which studies?
- no institution named
- claim can't be checked
Field notes
- Family
- False authority
- Habitat
- health reporting, parenting media, policy coverage
- Frequency
- found in 16% of analyzed articles
- Confused with
- Unnamed expert , Unverifiable claim
In the wild
"Research confirms that this approach consistently outperforms the alternatives."
Policy briefing, trade publication, February 2026
"Science has established a clear link between these two factors."
Health section, national daily, April 2026
Why it works
'Studies' carries institutional weight without any specific commitment. There is nothing to check, so there is nothing to challenge.
Counter-move
Ask: which studies? Published where? What did they actually find?
See it flagged in real articles while you read.
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