This article is part of the following topics: Critical Thinking Evaluating Sources
5 Ways To Evaluate Online Material
Teens get much of their information online. But it may be of dubious value.
Anyone can put up a website. When teens find something online, they should evaluate:
Authority. Who is responsible for the page? Check for the name of the person who wrote the article. What qualifications does the author have?
Timeliness. Check the footer to see when the website was created. Also check when it was last updated.
Coverage. What is the focus of the site? Are there clear headings to illustrate an outline of the content? Is it easy to move around the website?
Objectivity. What are the biases of the people who created the website? If a company sponsors a site to promote a product, is that spelled out? The URL/domain name (.gov, .com, .edu) can offer some clues about what type of group sponsors the site.
Accuracy. Is the information on the site reliable? Check groups that rate websites. Or, choose one or two “facts” and see if they are generally in line with reputable sites.
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