4 Easy Markers To Check For Website Credibility
People use the internet for one sole purpose — to look for information.
But at times, it can be tough to know whether the website is providing you real undisputed facts or plain unsubstantiated content. Of course, this does not apply to editorial or commentary posts. But how about the articles that are supposed to answer your questions when you use google?
Young students today are the number one victim of baseless content that they believe to be true, as they do not know better.
If you are researching facts for a school homework or project, or if you are simply someone trying to identify the accuracy of some details on a reliable looking webpage, here are some of the easy markers you can look for to help you recognize credible websites.
Check the website’s domain name.
One of the primary steps in determining whether a website is trustworthy or not is to check their domain name.
Look at the three letters at the end of the domain name, the top level domain. They could be “gov” (for government), “edu” for (education), “com” (for commercial), or “org” (for non-profit institutions). Generally, the most credible sites are “gov and “edu”.
Non-profit sites (.org) may also have reliable information, however, note that each organization has an agenda and a purpose, so investigate for any hidden biases. Commercial websites (.com) can be reliable sources too, but you also need to do some digging to find the other signs of credibility.
Go to institutions or prominent names.
Large institutions such as government organizations, university websites, and online newspaper publications are some of the trusted sources that can provide you with accurate information. If you are also trying to search for other reliable sources, big institutions always provide the links to their sources at the bottom of their content.
For students and people trying to find the most reliable source of information, this is a potential gold mine. Websites like the Mayo Clinic, Yale or Harvard University, CNN or BBC — these are institutions that will only provide you with pieces of information that are based on facts.
It has good spelling and correct grammar.
Not all reliable and trustworthy websites publish a college-ready essay. But one of the most crucial yet simple determinants of quality articles is the spelling and the grammar of the content. If it is loaded with errors, it is most likely done in a rushed or hurried manner.
There is also a chance that the content has not been thoroughly studied or researched by the author. Punctuations should be in place and the text should be well worded. These are simple yet obvious signs whether you could trust a website or not.
Check for the SSL Certificate.
Take a quick look at the website’s URL. If it begins with an “https” instead of “http”, then it indicates that the webmaster has acquired an SSL certificate to ensure that his or her website is secured. However, even if a website has this feature, it is still a good idea to check other determinants to see if the site is indeed reliable or not.
Sites that have Extended Validation (EV is the highest level of validation) can be considered credible and safe. Institutions or organizations with this certification are required to provide their identity, address and contact details.
You can find out if the site has acquired this attribute by checking at the address bar. If the browser is green with a tiny padlock icon, then it means the website has acquired EV.
Always be careful when you are researching for information or buying things online.
You must constantly check if a website is providing you with credible information and if the website itself has been set up to provide protection for its visitors. Always second guess if the grammar seems off and never give away any sensitive information if the website has not acquired an SSL Certificate.
This article is written by Andrew MakGregor from TrustActivity.
