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Developing critical thinking skills to evaluate the reliability and truthfulness of online content.
Did you know there is a famous website dedicated to the 'Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus'? It has photos, descriptions, and stories, but there is one problem: it is 100% fake! How can you tell the difference between a fun prank and a real fact?
When you land on a new website, you need to look for red flags—clues that the information might be wrong. First, check the design. Does the site look messy, or are there tons of 'pop-up' ads? Second, look for spelling and grammar errors. Professional websites usually have editors who fix these. Third, watch out for clickbait. If a headline says something like 'You won't believe this talking dog!', it is often trying to trick you into clicking rather than giving you facts. If a site feels 'off,' it probably is!
Imagine you see a headline: 'Scientists discover cats can fly!' 1. Check the site: It is covered in ads for toys. 2. Check the writing: Words like 'Scientists' are spelled 'Siantists.' 3. The Verdict: These are two major red flags! This is likely fiction.
Quick Check
Name two visual clues on a website that might mean the information is unreliable.
Answer
Messy design/too many pop-up ads and spelling or grammar mistakes.
You read that 'The moon is made of green cheese.' 1. Source 1: A random blog says it's true. 2. Source 2: NASA's website says the moon is made of rock. 3. Source 3: National Geographic says the moon is made of rock. 4. Conclusion: Since out of reliable sources agree on rock, the 'green cheese' claim is fiction.
Quick Check
Why is it important to check more than one website for the same information?
Answer
To see if different sources agree, which makes the information more likely to be a fact.
Every piece of information has a source (the author) and a timestamp (the date). Ask yourself: Who wrote this? Are they an expert, like a doctor or a scientist, or just someone with an opinion? Then, check the date. Information changes fast! An article about the 'Best Video Games' from the year won't be very helpful today. For science and technology, try to find articles written in the last to years to ensure the facts are still 'fresh.'
You find two articles about how to treat a bee sting: 1. Article A: Written by a 'Mystery User' in 1998 on a public forum. 2. Article B: Written by a Pediatrician (Children's Doctor) in 2023 on a hospital website. 3. Decision: Article B is better because the author is an expert and the information is current.
What is 'clickbait'?
If you find a fact on one website, how many more sources should you check to follow the 'Rule of Three'?
An article written by an expert in 2005 is always better than an article written by a student in 2024.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember the three 'Red Flags' we discussed: Design, Spelling, and Clickbait.
Practice Activity
Find a news story online today and try to find two other websites that report the same facts. Do they all agree?