Judging Web Pages Part Two

Okay, so once we realize that everything on the Internet isn't true, how do we decide if a web site can be trusted or not? This is one of those times when what we learned using books can transfer to working with the Internet.

1. Look for a copyright date. These are usually found on the bottom of the web page and may include a date when the page was last updated. This can help determine how current the information is on the page.


2. Learn about the author. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and see if there is an author listed. This could be an individual person, or it could be an organization. Don't just stop with the name! If there is a link to more information about the person or the group, follow it. Are they really experts, or is this just someone's personal opinion disguised as fact?


3. Where is this page created and stored? This information is easy to find in a book, but it is not so easy on a web page. Start with the URL, or address, of the web page. Look for words that might indicate where this page is from (uk for United Kingdom, for example). Read the small print at the bottom of the page, too.


4. What is the purpose of this site? Each address also has a domain, which is usually a 3 letter abbreviation after a period (think .com, .org, or .edu). These domains are clues about the purpose; .com, for example, is a commercial enterprise, or a business site. It exists to make money. There is no hard and fast rule for which ones are more trustworthy; a business site is not always bad and an education site is not always good.


5. How accessible is the information? In a book, students look for indexes, headings, captions, tables, graphs...anything that makes the information easy to find. The same strategies can apply to a web site. Are there clear headings to help you pick out the information needed? Are there links to each section so you don't have to scroll through multiple pages? Organization can make all the difference when trying to find information.

Many students think that the Internet exists to share information, but this is only one of its uses. Mostly, the Internet exists for communication, business, and entertainment. Some of the best information on the Internet is actually hidden in private databases...but that is a topic for another day! Just remember, you can't trust everything you read, especially if you found it on the Internet.