Why Evaluate Sources?
Have you ever been told not everything you read on the Internet is true? Even though you're reading this on the Internet... It's true! When you're using online sources like blogs, social media, or other online content to get information you want to take the time to think critically about who is creating those sources, what makes them qualified to do so, and why they are creating and sharing information.
This page includes some strategies to use when evaluating social media sources. These skills can help you in your research for class projects and in your everyday life. When you're looking at information online, get in the habit of asking yourself some simple questions about who is creating it and why.
Three Questions
Who posted it?
See what you can find out about the person behind the username. Is this one person, or an organization? Can you identify who they are and what organization(s) they are affiliated with? Look at their bio and any affiliated links to see what you can learn.
Consider how long the account has been active and what they typically post about. Do they have a pattern of posting about a specific topic or issue, or do they seem to dive into unrelated topics whenever they go viral? Consistent posts about the same topic may show more credibility than someone who moves from topic to topic trying to get the most views or traffic.
What are the facts?
Take a minute to think about what claim(s) this person is making. Is what they are saying true? How can you tell? Try to find other sources that either verify, disprove, or provide additional context. Does the post cite a source? If so, see if you can find that source and determine if the post is correctly representing what it says.
Look for other sources that either support or challenge the information in the one you're looking at. This is also called lateral reading - a process where you look for the same information across multiple sources to come to a consensus of what is accurate. Finding better coverage might mean looking for another publisher, writer, or media outlet that is also covering the same issue. Look for information in sources you know are trustworthy.
Why was it posted?
Think about what the person is hoping to get out of posting this. Are they trying to spread awareness and share information about something? Are they trying to provoke an audience to gain engagement and traffic to their profile? Are they trying to sell something?
What bias is the person approaching the topic with? Remember, everyone has bias, and it is not necessarily a bad thing. We all see the world through certain lenses. It's important to know how to recognize bias and how it impacts what someone is saying and how you are interpreting it.
Authority
Authority: Who is the expert?
When we talk about evaluating sources, we use a concept called authority to think about who is creating and sharing information. Authority refers to the influence, credibility, expertise, and qualifications of a source's creator. Think about how people become experts and what makes someone qualified to speak about or write about a topic. This may be different depending on the topic and what kind of information you're looking for.
For example, if you want to know how gentrification is impacting long-term residents of Worcester, an authoritative source might be someone who has lived in Worcester their entire life and is now considering moving because the cost of living is too high. They have lived experience that would give you a valuable perspective on your topic. In this same example, you might also want to know about the economic explanations for gentrification. For that, a scholar or academic who studies gentrification and economics would be an authoritative source. These are two different types of authority that have different purposes.
Expertise and authority can come in different forms. Academic expertise can come from someone doing a lot of scholarship in a field and earning an advanced degree. Someone could be an expert through life experience or job experience. There can also be expertise associated with holding a certain office or position, like a spokesperson for a government agency or the leader of an organization. When you're looking at online sources, try to learn more about the person who created it and whether they are an authoritative source.