INVESTIGATE

Investigate the source. Identify who created the information. Checking the website’s domain name and formatting isn’t enough to tell if a source is trustworthy. You need to know who is behind the information you read online and if they can be trusted.

Take a minute to identify where this information comes from. Consider the creator’s expertise, purpose, and potential biases. If the creator appears untrustworthy, the source may not be worth your time. Try searching for what others have said about the source to help with your evaluation.

(For example, a company that sells health food products could be biased, so it’s not the best source for information about the health benefits/risks of consuming coconut oil. A research study funded by a pharmaceutical company is also suspect).