Examples of Website Credibility Issues for Students

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🌐 URL Issues: Pay attention to the domain name. Suspicious URLs might include unusual extensions or misspellings of known websites.
• 📅 Outdated Content: Check the publication date. If the information is several years old, it may not be current or reliable.
• 📢 Lack of Author Information: A credible website usually identifies the author or organization responsible for the content.
• ✍️ Poor Grammar and Spelling: Frequent errors can be a sign of unprofessionalism and a lack of attention to detail.
• 📊 Biased Content: Watch out for sites that present only one side of an issue without acknowledging other viewpoints.
• 🔗 Broken Links: A large number of broken links can indicate that the website is not well-maintained.
• 🛡️ Missing Security: Look for "https" in the URL and a padlock icon, indicating a secure connection.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is MOST likely to indicate a website credibility issue?
   1. A) A website with a clear and concise "About Us" page.
   2. B) A website with a recent publication date and updated information.
   3. C) A website with numerous spelling and grammatical errors.
   4. D) A website that clearly cites its sources.


2. What does a URL starting with "http" (without the "s") typically indicate?
   1. A) The website is highly secure.
   2. B) The website does not encrypt data transmitted between you and the server.
   3. C) The website is running on the latest technology.
   4. D) The website is primarily for educational purposes.


3. A website heavily promoting a specific product without disclosing any potential conflicts of interest is exhibiting what type of credibility issue?
   1. A) Objectivity.
   2. B) Bias.
   3. C) Transparency.
   4. D) Currency.


4. Why is the 'last updated' date important when evaluating website credibility?
   1. A) It shows how often the website is backed up.
   2. B) It indicates the font size used on the website.
   3. C) It helps determine if the information is current and relevant.
   4. D) It ensures the website is compatible with all browsers.


5. What might a large number of broken links on a website indicate?
   1. A) The website has high-quality external resources.
   2. B) The website is well-maintained and regularly updated.
   3. C) The website is outdated or not properly maintained.
   4. D) The website uses advanced linking strategies.


6. If a website's domain name is very similar to a well-known and reputable website but has a slight misspelling, what potential issue does this suggest?
   1. A) The website is a mirror site.
   2. B) The website uses a different content delivery network (CDN).
   3. C) The website could be a phishing attempt or scam.
   4. D) The website is undergoing rebranding.


7. A credible website should ideally have:
   1. A) Anonymous authors to protect their privacy.
   2. B) No contact information to prevent spam.
   3. C) Clearly identified authors or sources for the information.
   4. D) Information that contradicts commonly accepted knowledge.