HUM/176
Hello Friend:
Having quick access to information can make life quite easy! I say this, because not all information you find on digital media sources can be trusted. The one way you can assess the value of the information is to perform research on the information offered or cross-reference the information you find. Since anyone can post anything on the Internet, it is best to identify the author and research the author’s credentials. This week I was researching information on the Internet about the digital divide. The search pulled up more than 50 pages of web links multiplied by 13 web links per page. Most of the populated information, was outdated, not that out dated information is not useful; however, I was able to find 10 web links that were dated recently enough for me to use. Over the years, I have become more literate regarding digital media and been able to distinguish the difference between blog, chat room, substantive and opinionated sites. Understanding how to identify bias statements and identify the facts as it relates, is one way to look at the information provided with a critical eye. Some websites the author, tries to influence their readers by taking a bias approach to persuade the reader’s thoughts on a particular subject, in these instances you are not receiving a balanced viewpoint, however; this is not always bad, especially when it comes to researching on personal viewpoints. Understanding the reliability and credibility of information might be as simple as knowing the domain. Domains can clue you in on the type of information and where the information originated. For instance, if I am looking for information on taxes, I would find correct answers on IRS.gov instead of IRS.com. It is safe to assume that IRS.gov is a reliable website as the government is the creator, on the other hand, IRS.com shows me similar information, however, it contains advertisements and a direct