Some web sources are educational, while others are persuasive, misinformed, or even intentionally misleading. But you can learn to do your own evaluation and tell the difference.
Be sure to carefully assess online content such as websites, blogs, and social media for accuracy and bias. Unlike library resources, some online information doesn’t have a reliable process for fact-checking or editing.
| Facts | Opinions |
| Can be independently checked and verified | Are beliefs or judgments about something |
| Based on research or observation that can be reproduced | Based on personal perspective and experience |
| Universal; they are true for or apply to everyone | Can vary from one person to the next |
| Come from credible sources on a topic | Come from anyone & everyone |
| Both: Can be misused, misinterpreted, or taken out of context Can be used to influence people and events Can change based on new information |
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The website AllSides.com presents news and analysis on trending topics from across the American political spectrum. They compare and contrast different versions of the same story, highlighting bias so you can form your own conclusions.
These sites are good sources of data and expert opinions related to current issues:
Ask yourself these questions when you come across a website. The answers will help you determine the reliability and currency of the information.
Who: Who wrote it?
What: What kind of information does it have?
When: When was the information written or created?
Where: Where does the information come from?
Why: Why was the site created?