Finding Trustworthy Sources of Information
The internet has made finding information incredibly easy. However, a lot of information on websites is misleading or even completely incorrect. So how do you know what to trust? Here are some suggestions for finding accurate information online, and other places where you should be careful.
Identifying Reliable Online Sources
An easy way to spot more accurate information is to check the source’s website address (the URL). For example, websites generally known to be reliable end with: .gov – these are government websites, which are reliable. For health information and news, helpful websites include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Office of Women’s Health. For information about jobs, housing, education, and disability, among other topics, USA.gov can be helpful. .edu – these are websites for educational institutions (such as colleges and universities), which will be reliable if the information comes from a reputable college department or research center. .org – these are websites for non-profit organizations (such as hospitals, social services, and research agencies) which can be reliable. Keep in mind that some organizations might promote specific viewpoints. Websites that end with .com are commercial. These websites are good for learning about a specific business, but it can be difficult to know whether they include reliable information. Other potentially reliable sources of information online include academic journals and the articles they publish, dissertations, and news media (such as newspaper articles). Google Scholar can be helpful for finding academic articles, or you can look on public or college library websites.
Social media
Websites and apps such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are places where people commonly post unreliable information, promote products, and express personal opinions. Generally, be cautious about believing information that is shared on social media.
Checking the Reliability of Information Online
If you are ever in doubt about information you find online, it might be a good idea to see if you can find the same information on a government (.gov) website. You can also check whether something is accurate or reliable by:
- Looking for references. If you are unsure about the accuracy of a piece of information, see if the web page lists sources (usually at the bottom of the page) and the nature of these source (are they government, university, or non-profit websites?).
- Learning more about the author. Sometimes, authors or contributors are listed on the web page. Try doing a quick Google search to see what else the author has published.
- Checking the dates. When looking at information on a website, check the date it was last updated (usually at the top or bottom of the page). Information updated more recently is often more accurate.
