Become an Internet Sleuth
There are ways to figure out if the site you're on is a reputable one. First, look at the domain name and the extension. Ever notice that most sites have '.com' or '.org' at the end? These actually mean something. Below is a list of the most common domain name extensions and their meanings:
- .com - stands for a commercial site. So, if you land on a .com page, that site may have an agenda beyond providing you with information, such as selling a product.
- .net - stands for Internet source. Again, these sites can be excellent resources, but they can also be unreliable.
- .edu - stands for university or school. These are usually reliable resources.
- .gov - this stands for the government. These are also usually reliable resources.
- .org - this stands for nonprofit organization. These sites are also generally reliable.
In 'Web Search for Beginners' you'll find some great information for how to search for what you want and how to figure out if the sites listed are reliable. First, look at the domain name (above). Next, search for information about the site. Who created it? What are their credentials? When was the site last updated? Is there a list of available resources you can check out? Finally, read the information carefully and see if it gels with what you already know. For example, if you know that safe weight loss happens with exercise and a healthy diet, be wary of a site that offers a magical pill guaranteeing weight loss.
Now that you have some basic tools under your belt, check out some of my favorite heatlh and fitness websites.
