Links

With the huge variety of materials available on the World Wide Web, it can be difficult to discern which websites are up-to-date, accurate and helpful, and which leave a little (or a lot!) to be desired. Hopefully, these suggestions will help you decide which sites are worth your time and which are not.

  • Look for indications that the site's content is current. Many websites will state when the most recent update was made. Those that don't will often have datable material, such as links to recent events or publications, to tell you when the site was last updated. If a site, particularly one dedicated to an ever-evolving topic such as HIV/AIDS, hasn't been updated for a long time, it is probably best look for a more recent website.
  • Make sure the site offers valid information. Compare the information contained in one site to the information on other websites, in books, newspapers, etc. This process will make it easier to tell if the facts presented on the site are correct, wrong, or if they're being presented with a particular bias. Legitimate, knowledgeable professionals in any field will strive to provide clear, complete and accurate information. Incomplete material, or material full of mechanical errors or unsubstantiated opinion is not accepted at the professional level in any field, and is best disregarded.
  • Try to determine who publishes the website. Since there are no quality controls on the World Wide Web, anyone with an HTML editing program and access to a server can publish a website. Look for the publisher's credentials. Is this person knowledgeable in the field? Is this person part of a legitimate agency or institution that would have accurate information to share? Look for a link that will offer you a description of the agency or company's purpose or practices. A legitimate agency or business should also have an e-mail address, mailing address or telephone number, and staff contact information, so people can ask questions or express concerns or complaints.
  • The website's purpose should be clear. After reading a few pages, it should be obvious if the website exists to offer information, market or sell products, provide a medium of communication between people or groups, advocate a cause or seek information from the public. While there will often be some overlap among these categories, there should be no attempt to disguise the website's purpose. For example, a website dedicated to selling a product should be up front about it, and not be disguised as site dedicated to providing information on a particular topic. Read websites critically, especially when advertisements or requests for money appear repeatedly.
  • If you are making a donation or purchase through a website, be sure the information you send is secure! Look for a security marker on the order form or donation page. If you have any doubts about the security of your information, contact the company or agency responsible for the site's content and ask for some other way to send your money.

With the huge variety of materials available on the World Wide Web, it can be difficult to discern which websites are up-to-date, accurate and helpful, and which leave a little (or a lot!) to be desired. Hopefully, these suggestions will help you decide which sites are worth your time and which are not. Read websites critically, especially when advertisements or requests for money appear.