FAQ: How do I evaluate a website?
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Last Updated: May 28, 2025
Views: 2423
It is particularly important that you evaluate any web resources you use (for example: websites, blogs, YouTube videos, etc.) because anyone can post anything online.
When evaluating websites, first ask yourself: How did you find the website?
- Was this website shared on your social media feed?
- Did a professor or another reliable source recommend it?
- Was it cited in a scholarly or credible source?
- Was it a link from a reputable website?
- Did you find it by using a search engine like Google?
How you found the website can inform your evaluation of the site's reliability.
It is important to pay attention to details when evaluating websites. To determine a website's reliability, ask yourself the following:
- What kind of website is this? Is this a news site, a social media site, a government site, or another kind of resource?
- What is the goal of this website?
- Does this website have a credible publisher?
- Does this website cite reliable sources?
- What is this website's professional reputation?
Please explore the "What about websites?" page of the Evaluating Sources library guide for more information.
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