FAQ: How do I evaluate a website?

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.