Hot reading

"Hot reading" refers to a technique used by some psychics and mentalists where they gather information about a person before an interaction, often without the person's knowledge. This pre-acquired knowledge is then presented during a reading or performance as if it has been supernaturally received. The technique may involve searching through social media, public records, or other sources to find detailed and personal information about a person. This is distinct from "cold reading," which relies on making generalized statements and observing the subject's reactions to appear psychic. Hot reading allows the performer to create a more convincing and specific interaction by using real and personal data about the individual 1.

In practice, hot reading can result in moments during psychic performances where individuals are astonished by the accuracy of the information given—which they believe could only be known through psychic abilities. For example, mentioning personal details like recent posts on social media can leave an audience member feeling like the psychic truly has supernatural abilities, even though the information was gathered through ordinary means like internet searches 2.