I read it online! . . but is that enough?

 Sure you read it online . . but are you sure it is correct? How well do you know your sources?

Living in the era of fake news and hoaxes means you need to know how to check the credibility of your sources. Did you know that even Wikipedia is not always correct? And did you know that many sites spread false information because they serve specific goals? So believe noone at first sight and learn how to evaluate your online sources!

Here is what is advised by the University of Columbia

Evaluating Online Sources

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How do you determine if a source is credible? You can evaluate the reliability and scholarship of information you find both online and in print by using these guidelines:

• Authorship
  If the author is not identified be wary. When an article or website is authored anonymously it has little credibility. It should be evident who created the content. What are the author's credentials? Does he/she have expertise in this field? Is biographical information provided?
• Publisher
  This can help you determine the origin of the document, for example whether it is produced by an established publisher, a government agency, a nonprofit organization, or a commercial website. Consider the publisher's reputation and trustworthiness.
• Accuracy and objectivity
  Can the facts presented on a website be substantiated elsewhere? Beware of information that can't be confirmed or that presents a biased view. Always check multiple sources to determine credibility.
• Timeliness
  Be aware of when the web page was created and how recently it's been updated. Is the information current? Outdated information and broken links indicate the page is not being maintained.
• Footnotes and bibliographies
  Legitimate references and links to other sources can add to a document's credibility and depth of scholarship.
• Sponsorship
  Some sites are officially approved by the parent organization to which they're linked. Others can be on a parent site but not officially sponsored by the organization. A personal homepage on a university's server does not automatically confer credibility.

Source