Explaining website credibility to your child

It’s not always easy to tell fact from fiction. On the internet, sharing information couldn’t be simpler—you can spread it around the world with a click of the mouse. But an article isn’t necessarily credible just because it’s been widely read and shared. Similarly, you shouldn’t blindly trust a website just because it’s been visited billions of times.

By encouraging your child to ask the right questions, you’re giving them the tools they need to protect themselves. Here are the five you should start with:

1. What type of content is published on the site?

It’s important to know how to distinguish between the different types of content published online:

• Advertisement: Often includes a call to action (“buy,” “don’t wait,” “starting now”)
• Opinion: The author writes in the first person (“I”)
• Disguised advertising: The author attempts to sell something to the reader by describing an experience (sometimes includes the word “sponsored” or “ad”)

2. What does the site look like?

Generally, sites that are professional and credible have a polished appearance. If that’s not the case, you should be skeptical. But be careful—a professional‑looking site isn’t necessarily reliable. Look for these other clues that suggest a site may not be trustworthy:

• Spelling mistakes
• Pages filled with ads and pop‑ups
• Statements that try to elicit fear
• Provocative images
• Etc.

3. Who is the author of the article?

The reputation of the author can be a good indication of credibility. That’s why it’s important to find out who they are:

• A well‑known person who is recognized in their field
• An unknown person
• A company
• An activist
• Etc.

If a site has a professional appearance and publishes informative articles by well-reputed contributors, that’s good—but it’s not enough. You’ll need to take the exercise a bit further. Your child should ask more questions:

• Are the sources indicated?
• Are there links and quotations?
• If I follow the links, where do they take me?
• If I enter the title of one of the articles in a search engine, what results come up? Are there mentions of a hoax or fake news?
• According to the date at the bottom of the page, when was the site last updated?
• If I were a detective, what other questions would I ask myself?
• Etc.

Knowing how to tell whether a website is credible is an essential skill, not only for your child’s safety, but also for the quality of their schoolwork. To help your child hand in assignments that look worthy of the time and effort that went into them, have a look at the homework presentation guidelines available at alloprofparents.ca.