Think Before You Link

5 Criteria for Evaluating Web Sources

In the digital age, information is everywhere—but not all of it is trustworthy. Whether you're organizing a movement, writing a policy brief, or simply reposting a stat, the quality of your sources matters. This infographic breaks down five essential criteria for evaluating web-based content to ensure accuracy, accountability, and impact.

These criteria are:

🔹 Authority – Who wrote it, and why should we trust them?
🔹 Objectivity – Does the content reflect bias or balance?
🔹 Coverage & Audience – Who is it written for, and how comprehensive is it?
🔹 Accuracy – Is it backed by evidence or peer-reviewed data?
🔹 Currency – How recent is the information?

Knowing how to vet sources is a fundamental part of digital literacy, especially in advocacy and communications. This guide empowers advocates, educators, and digital organizers to root their messages in verified, up-to-date, and purpose-aligned content (Bliss Drive, 2024).

🖼️ Check out the full infographic below and keep it close—it’s your digital compass.

In a time when misinformation can spread faster than the truth, applying these five criteria isn’t just an academic exercise—it’s an act of advocacy. Whether you're sharing data on housing justice, crafting a grant proposal, or building a campaign site for a local initiative, your credibility hinges on your sources. Being able to critically assess a website’s authority, objectivity, audience, accuracy, and currency helps protect your message from being dismissed, questioned, or undermined. It also empowers your audience to trust what they’re reading, reposting, and acting on. When we hold ourselves accountable to these standards, we model the kind of information ecosystem we want to build—one rooted in transparency, equity, and truth. Bookmark this guide, share it with your team, and keep it close as a checkpoint anytime you're sourcing content that moves people to action. Strong data builds strong narratives—and strong narratives change policy.