Information that is found on the internet and social media sites are not always accurate. Whether the information is in the form of videos, images, or news articles it must be looked at with a critical eye and here are some tips:
Who created the site?
What is their authority?
Do they have expertise or experience with the topic?
What are their credentials, institutional affiliation?
Is the purpose and intention of the site clear, including any bias or particular viewpoint?
Are the purpose and scope stated?
Who is the intended audience?
Is the information clearly presented as being factual or opinion, primary or secondary in origin?
What criteria are used for inclusion of the information?
Is the information presented accurate?
Are the facts documented or well-researched?
Are the facts similar to those reported in related print or other online sources?
Are the Web resources for which links are provided quality sites?
Is the information current?
Is the content current?
Are the pages date-stamped with last update?
Is the site well-designed and stable?
Is the site organization logical and easy to maneuver?
Is the content written at a level that is readable by the intended audience?
Has attention been paid to presenting the information as error-free (e.g., spelling, punctuation) as possible?
Is there a readily identifiable link back to the institutional or organizational home page?
Is the site reliably accessible?