Evaluating Credibility of Online Sources

In a world where anyone can publish anything online, not everything you read is accurate, reliable, or even honest. When you’re searching for information, whether it’s for a class assignment, a workplace project, or your own curiosity, it’s important to know how to tell the difference between a credible source and one you should be skeptical of. This was true before the Internet when it was easy for anyone to post information, and even more so now.

“Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.”

Edgar Allan Poe – https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/252780-believe-nothing-you-hear-and-only-one-half-that-you

This quote suggests having a high degree of skepticism and critical thinking when processing information, particularly from secondhand sources. It has been tweaked and attributed to others, but this was the earliest one I could find.

This skill isn’t just for research papers. Being able to evaluate online information is essential for making good decisions in your personal and professional life. It’s what helps you avoid falling for scams, misinformation, or just plain bad advice.

Using AI search results can also cause issues. Consider the well known blunders of when Google first used their results, and it encouraged people to eat a rock a day to cut down on the number of calories they consumed if they were trying to lose weight. Or how they could use glue to help hold the toppings onto a pizza. – https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/05/31/google-ai-glue-to-pizza-viral-blunders/

Why Credibility Matters

Let’s say you’re researching health tips and come across an article that tells you to drink apple cider vinegar every day to “cure” all kinds of diseases. It sounds convincing, it has a few scientific words thrown in, and it even looks like a medical site. But is it reliable? Where did that information come from? Can you trust it?

Using unreliable sources can lead to real problems, like spreading false information, making bad decisions, or submitting poor-quality schoolwork. In professional settings, relying on questionable data can hurt your reputation and your organization’s success.

Learning to evaluate credibility means asking the right questions before you trust, share, or use the information.

The challenge is that with AI, it is easy for bad actors to make convincing looking information. Sometimes AI is obvious and for fun. Consider the following video. I don’t think anyone will take this serious and think it’s real.

Now watch this video. Would you, or someone you know think it’s real? How can you protect yourself from this? Check what you see in the next section. Without investigating, would you know that this information was faked?

Know about Bad Actors

You also have to know that there are “bad actors” in this world. People who intentionally work to mislead people. Sometimes they do it under the guise of a news story, sometimes it is fake protest. Some countries like Iran, North Korea, and Russia have been known to use bot armies and intelligence operatives to flood Twitter (now X) and other social media channels about stories to make them look good, stir up unrest in their enemies home country, and/or give bad PR to make their enemies look bad.

Sometimes it is merely propaganda, and often there is the hope that it will be picked up by legitimate news companies who do not know the difference and fail to properly fact check information. Consider the video below about the lack of fact checking on Russia military might.

And consider the story about Iranian (Internet) bot armies, and how they could be detected.

Step 1: Who Wrote It?

Always check the author. Ask yourself:

• Is the author named?
• Do they have relevant qualifications or experience?
• Are they affiliated with a reputable organization?

If an article is written by someone with a background in the subject, that’s a good sign. For example, if you’re reading about a medical topic, you’d want to see a doctor, researcher, or health journalist as the author. You want to avoid articles written by someone with no listed credentials.

Note: Just because an article has a published author doesn’t mean that it’s accurate. You can put any name and credentials on a paper, just like with the content that doesn’t make it true. So keep reading to see if it passes other tests.

Step 2: Where Was It Published?

Not all websites are created equal. A university (.edu), government agency (.gov), or respected organization (.org) usually has more reliable content than a random blog or clickbait site.

Here’s a general guide to domain types:

• .edu – Schools and universities. Usually trustworthy, especially for research.
• .gov – Government sources. Great for statistics, laws, public programs. May or may not be trust worthy for data, public policy, etc.
• .org – Nonprofits. These can be useful, but may have a specific mission or viewpoint.
• .com – Commercial sites. Can be reliable but vary widely in quality.
• .net, .info, etc. – Often less regulated or credible.

Check the site’s About page. Does the organization have a strong reputation? Do they have a mission statement? Do they clearly explain how their content is created or reviewed?

A flashy site layout doesn’t mean it’s professional or trustworth. And a boring-looking page doesn’t mean it’s not. Focus on the source and content, not the style.

Step 3: Can You Verify the Information?

A good source will back up its claims with evidence. Look for:

• References to studies or reports
• Links to original sources
• Quotes from experts
• Data or statistics with proper attribution

If the site makes bold claims but offers no proof or sources, be cautious. Even if something sounds right, you should be able to confirm it somewhere else.

Try doing a quick cross-check. If three or four trusted sources say the same thing, that’s usually a good sign. If only one site mentions it, and no one else backs it up, think twice.

Step 4: Is It Recent?

In some topics, like history or classic literature, older sources may be fine. But in areas like technology, science, health, or current events, outdated information can be misleading or flat-out wrong.

Always check the publication date. Most web articles list when they were published or last updated. If a source is several years old, see if there’s a more recent version or update.

This is especially important in fast-changing fields like cybersecurity, medicine, or public policy. What was true three years ago might no longer apply today.

Step 5: Does It Seem Objective?

All sources have some kind of bias, but good sources try to be fair and fact-based. Watch out for articles that:

• Use extreme or emotional language
• Make lots of bold claims without support
• Seem designed to get you angry, scared, or overly excited
• Only present one side of a complex issue

These are signs that the author or site might be trying to persuade you rather than inform you. That doesn’t mean the information is false, but it may be incomplete or spun in a particular direction.

News sites used to be known as being unbiased, and not try to persuade you. However, now a days, you will find editorials masquerading as news, as the author tries to build bias. So use the information test above, even with “well respected” news sites.

Look for sources that present both sides, cite neutral data, and avoid loaded language.

Step 6: What’s the Purpose?

Ask yourself: Why was this content created?

Some possible reasons:

• To inform (like an encyclopedia entry or news article)
• To persuade (like an opinion column or editorial)
• To sell a product or service
• To entertain
• To mislead (sometimes for profit or political reasons)

If the main goal is to sell or persuade, be more skeptical. That doesn’t mean the information is wrong, but the source may be more focused on convincing you than on presenting balanced facts.

For example, a website selling supplements might exaggerate health benefits. A political blog might cherry-pick facts to support its views. Knowing the intent behind the content helps you decide how much to trust it.

Quick Tools for Checking Credibility

Here are a few tools and tricks you can use:

• Lateral reading: Instead of staying on one website, open a new tab and look up the author or organization. See what others say about them.
• Google the article title: Do others agree or challenge it? Is it reported by major news outlets?
• Snopes.com: Great for checking urban legends, viral rumors, and fake news.
• FactCheck.org or PolitiFact.com: Good for political claims.
• Media Bias/Fact Check (mediabiasfactcheck.com): Helps you identify the political leanings and credibility of different news sources. ground.news is another good website for helping you check news site biases.
• Ground News – good for finding where news stories are being reported, who owns the news agency, and which way to they lean.

Red Flags to Watch For

Practice Activity

Try searching for a common controversial topic like “minimum wage effects” or “should college be free.” Pick two articles that come from different perspectives.

Then ask yourself:

• Who wrote it?
• What organization published it?
• Are there sources or data?
• Is the language balanced or biased?
• What’s the overall purpose?

Compare the two and decide which one is more credible and why. This is a great habit to build for any research you do.

Wrapping Up

Evaluating the credibility of online sources is a skill that grows with practice. It’s not about memorizing rules. it’s about asking smart questions. Who’s telling me this? Why are they telling me? Can I check it?

In a digital world full of content, your ability to sort fact from fiction is one of your most powerful tools. When you use credible sources, you become a more effective learner, a more persuasive communicator, and a more informed citizen.

Next, we’ll look at something more invisible – but just as important: how the information we see online is influenced by hidden forces like algorithms and data bias.

Evaluating Credibility of Online Sources was originally found on Access 2 Learn