What does a .org domain indicate according to teachers?
Hi everyone,
My relative’s daughter, who is in middle school in the US, was told by her teacher that a website ending in “.org” is always reliable. She took this to heart and now considers .org websites as trustworthy sources.
If this is accurate, it suggests the teacher lacks common sense, and spreading such misinformation to students can be harmful. Anyone can purchase a .org domain for under $10.
Is this teacher an anomaly in the US education system? Should they be considered for professional development?
It’s quite common in middle school to teach students how to distinguish between reliable and unreliable news sources. The goal is to guide them away from sites like BuzzFeed, InfoWars, or PornHub, and toward more credible sources like PBS.org, NPR.org, or government sites (.gov).
You’re correct that this approach lacks nuance, which many middle school students and adults may not fully grasp. When I was in a middle school classroom, I tried to add some nuance, but the students had trouble understanding it.
I used a simple sports example: I asked them if they would trust ESPN for sports scores or news, and they generally agreed. I pointed out that ESPN is a .com site, and most students said they wouldn’t trust it as much. This was similar to the Patrick wallet meme.
I also mentioned that Wikipedia, a .org site, is edited voluntarily and shouldn’t be cited directly, but it can lead to credible sources. This discussion is usually more appropriate for high school students.
Many people think that “.org” websites are always reliable because they were originally for non-profit organizations. But anyone can buy a “.org” website, so the ending alone doesn’t guarantee reliability.
This idea might not just be one teacher’s misunderstanding but could be part of a bigger problem about website names and how credible they are.
Teachers should learn more about digital literacy. That way, they can give correct information to their students.
This is total misguidance.
When evaluating the reliability of a website, it is important to consider various factors beyond the domain extension, such as:
Author Credentials: Who is the author, and what are their qualifications?
Source Reputation: Is the website affiliated with a reputable organization?
Content Quality: Is the information well-researched and free from obvious bias?
References and Citations: Does the website provide references to credible sources?
Encouraging students to critically assess websites using these criteria will help them develop better digital literacy skills.