4. CAN – can I trust this information?
C – Credibility: How much do you know about the person or organisation providing the information? What sort of authority do they have for any statements or opinions they put forward? What sort of language do they use? Language that is either emotionally charged or vague can be a danger sign.
A – Agenda: Can you detect any bias or agenda? Who has put the information there? Do the authors state clearly the viewpoint they are taking? Can you detect any vested interests, for example, a particular political viewpoint or a product that is being promoted? You may need to dig deep to uncover these: this could include scrutinising the ‘About’ information on the website, and doing some research to find out more about the organisation or people who put the information there.
N – Need: What is your need or requirement in this particular situation? Think about what you are planning to do with the information. How important is it that the source is trustworthy?
This framework is useful for the sort of quick evaluation you might do in everyday life. When someone shares a sensational sounding story on Facebook or using other media, ask yourself: CAN I trust this?