Start by checking who wrote it and why
The first thing to look for is who is behind the page. Scroll to the bottom or look for an "About" link — a real organization will tell you its name, location, and what it does. If you cannot find this information, that is a red flag.
Next, ask yourself why this page exists. Is someone trying to sell you something? Are they pushing a particular political view? Are they a news outlet, a government agency, a company, or just someone with a blog? None of these are automatically wrong, but knowing the source helps you understand what lens they are looking through. A company selling mattresses will write about sleep differently than a sleep researcher will.
Look for an author's name, not just a company name. Pages written by actual people with credentials — a doctor, an engineer, a journalist — are usually more reliable than anonymous posts. If the author has a background in the subject, that matters. If they do not, that matters too.
Key Takeaways
- Check the bottom of the page or the "About" section to see who published the information and what their main purpose is.
- Cross-check facts against at least two other sources, especially for health, legal, or financial information.
- Look at the date the page was published or last updated — old information can be wrong now, especially for technology and medical topics.
- Websites ending in .gov, .edu, or from established news outlets are usually more reliable than random websites, but still verify important claims.
- If something sounds too good to be true or makes you feel panicked, slow down and check it against other sources before sharing or acting on it.
Look for sources and dates
Good information comes with sources you can check. If a page makes a claim — "75% of people prefer this" or "this treatment works" — it should tell you where that number came from. Look for links to studies, reports, or other pages that back up what is being said. If there are no sources at all, be skeptical.
Check when the page was written or last updated. This matters more for some topics than others. A guide about how to use Windows 11 from 2019 is probably wrong now. A page about the history of the internet from 2019 is probably still fine. For health, technology, and news, look for recent dates. For evergreen topics like "how to write a resume," the date matters less, but you still want to know.
If a page does not show a date at all, that is another warning sign. Legitimate websites publish dates so you know how current the information is.
Check the web address and design
The ending of a web address tells you something. Websites ending in .gov are government agencies. Websites ending in .edu are schools and universities. Websites ending in .org are usually nonprofits, though anyone can register a .org domain. Websites ending in .com are commercial and can be anyone.
None of these endings may provide the information is good or bad — a .com site can be excellent, and a .gov site can have outdated pages. But they give you context. A .gov page about Social Security is more likely to be accurate than a .com page about Social Security, because the government wrote its own rules.
Look at the overall design too. Does the page look professional and organized, or is it cluttered with ads and pop-ups? Does it have spelling and grammar mistakes? Sloppy design and writing often go with sloppy research, though a poorly designed page can still have good information.
Cross-check important claims against other sources
Before you believe something important — especially about health, money, or legal matters — look it up on at least one other website. If three different sources say the same thing, you can feel more confident. If they disagree, dig deeper to understand why.
For health information, check against pages from hospitals, medical schools, or organizations like the American Heart Association or the CDC. For legal information, look at government websites or bar association pages. For news, check multiple news outlets to see if they are reporting the same story the same way.
Wikipedia is useful for getting a quick overview, but do not stop there. Wikipedia's sources are listed at the bottom of each article — those original sources are often more reliable than Wikipedia itself.
Watch for red flags that signal unreliable information
Some warning signs appear again and again on unreliable pages. If a page uses all caps or lots of exclamation marks, or if it makes you feel scared or angry, slow down. Emotional language is often a sign someone is trying to manipulate you rather than inform you.
Be suspicious of pages that promise quick fixes or miracle solutions. "Lose 30 pounds in two weeks" or "This one trick doctors do not want you to know" are classic unreliable claims. Real information usually comes with nuance — it explains what works, for whom, and under what conditions.
If a page asks you to send money or personal information before you can read the full content, that is a red flag. Legitimate information sources do not hide behind paywalls for basic facts.
Understand the difference between news, opinion, and advertising
Many websites mix these together without clearly labeling them. News reports what happened, usually with sources and multiple perspectives. Opinion is one person's view about what something means. Advertising is paid content designed to make you buy something.
Look for labels like "Opinion," "Sponsored," or "Advertisement" — good websites mark these clearly. If you cannot tell whether something is news or opinion, that is a problem. Some websites blur these lines on purpose to make advertising look like news.
Social media posts are almost never reliable sources for factual information, even if they have a lot of likes or shares. Popularity does not equal accuracy.
Use fact-checking websites when you are unsure
If you see a claim that sounds wrong or too wild to be true, you can check it against dedicated fact-checking sites. Snopes.com checks urban legends and viral claims. FactCheck.org and PolitiFact focus on political and public statements. These sites show you the evidence behind their conclusions.
Google's fact-check tool also works — search for a claim and look for a "Fact Check" box in the results. This shows you what fact-checkers have already looked into.
These tools are not perfect, but they are useful when you are trying to figure out if something you saw online is actually true.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wikipedia safe to use for research?
Wikipedia is useful for getting a quick overview of a topic, but it should not be your only source. Anyone can edit Wikipedia, so information can be wrong or biased. The sources listed at the bottom of each article are often more reliable than the article itself. For important claims, always check those original sources.
How do I know if a website is trying to sell me something?
Look for "Sponsored," "Advertisement," or "Affiliate Link" labels. Also check who owns the website — if a company that sells a product is writing about that product, they have a reason to make it sound good. This does not mean the information is false, but you should know they have a financial interest in what they are saying.
What should I do if I find conflicting information on different websites?
Look for a third source to break the tie. Then check the dates — newer information might have replaced older information. Read carefully to see if the websites are actually disagreeing or just emphasizing different parts of the same story. If they truly disagree, look at their sources to see which one has better evidence.
Are government websites always accurate?
Government websites are usually more reliable than random websites, but they can still have outdated pages or errors. Check the publication date and cross-check important information against another source. A .gov site is a good starting point, not a may provide.
How can I tell if something is misinformation or just a different opinion?
Misinformation is false information presented as fact, usually with no sources. A different opinion is someone's interpretation of facts, and they should tell you what facts they are basing it on. If someone makes a factual claim but gives no evidence, ask them for sources before you believe it.