Does .org mean a website is reliable or trustworthy?

General Forum
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Hi all,

My relative’s daughter, who attends middle school in the US, mentioned that her teacher claimed, “a website that ends with ‘.org’ means the source is reliable.” She took this at face value and now considers any “.org” website trustworthy.

If this is accurate, it indicates a serious lack of common sense on the teacher’s part, which is concerning because making such assertions can mislead students. The truth is, anyone can purchase a “.org” domain for less than $10.

My question is: Is this teacher an exception in the US education system? Should this teacher be required to undergo some form of professional development or improvement plan?

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A “.org” doesn’t automatically mean a site is reliable. Anyone can get a “.org” domain, so you still need to check the site’s credibility and look at other factors. It might be a good idea for the teacher to get some extra training on evaluating online sources.

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Hello… A .org domain indicates a non-profit organization, which often suggests reliability and trustworthiness. However, it’s not a guarantee. Always evaluate the website’s content, check for transparency, review user feedback, and verify the organization’s credentials for a comprehensive assessment.