Internet Safety: Information Quality - Searching, Evaluating, Sharing, and Creating Information Online

Most people agree that the internet has changed their lives for the better. However, being able to find information and communicate with others online can be challenging sometimes. It's often hard to know whether the information that you find online is true. 

What online information can I trust?

Being able to tell if something on the internet is accurate is tough for everyone, not just teens. Always question any information you read online until you're able to figure out whether or not it's true.

Here are some general tips on how to tell if a website and information posted is reliable:

Keep in mind that there's no way to know for sure that the information you find on a site is completely trustworthy. When trying to decide if you can trust something online, you'll probably want to use many of these tips to help you evaluate whether or not the information is reliable. Once you find a reliable website, you can bookmark it or add it as a favorite so you can easily find it again later.

• Check the domain name. Web sites that end in .gov or .edu are generally reliable because they're connected with the United States government and academic institutions. However, just because a website ends in .com doesn't mean it's unreliable. You may have to dig a little deeper to figure out whether or not you can trust the source.
• Check the sources. Look for the name of the organization, the author(s) of the website, and the most recent date that the information was updated. Reliable websites often have an "About" or "About Us" page that will give you information about the people or organization that has created the information. Reliable sites often have a list of references that include the source of the information. If the website is created by a person rather than an organization, finding out why they're publishing the information might help you to figure out whether it's reliable.
• Check the appearance. Judging a website based on appearance can be extremely subjective, which means that what looks legit to you might not look legit to someone else. It's best to go with your gut here, if the information or the way it's presented seems sketchy or makes you uncomfortable, then that's probably a clue that the site you're evaluating isn't reliable. If the information presented is convincing, you'll probably come across it in other sources (such as a book or scholarly journal) as well, which will help you ensure that the information you find is accurate.
• Check the outgoing links. If the website provides links to other sites, click on them. If the site or information you're taken to is reliable, it's likely the original website is trustworthy.
• Check the dates. Be sure to check the date(s) that the information on the site was last updated or revised. This will help you figure out if the site is maintained regularly and if the information is current.
• Check the facts. If you're looking for facts, check out a few different websites to compare information. If you find the same information from a few different sources, you can be fairly sure you've found correct information. You'll also know which websites are reliable and can visit them again in the future.
• Check with people. Librarians and teachers are usually good resources to help you identify accurate and trustworthy websites. If you're looking for reliable health information, you can ask your health care provider(s) what sites they recommend.

Written and reviewed by the CYWH Staff at Boston Children's Hospital  

Source: youngwomenshealth.org