In a world overwhelmed by information—from social media posts to deepfake videos to biased news articles—it’s becoming increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction. Critical thinking is no longer just an academic exercise; it is a survival skill for navigating the digital landscape. To help you cut through the noise and assess credibility effectively, here are ten key questions to ask yourself whenever you are faced with a claim. If the answer is ‘yes’ to all ten, the source’s opinion or advice may indeed be worth serious consideration. But if you get a “no” on one or more, it would be wisest to apply a healthy dose of skepticism.
Expertise matters. If the source is not qualified in the relevant field, be skeptical. Genuine expertise comes from years of study and experience—not just having a strong or sincere opinion, and not just because a person has an authoritative demeanor. And certainly not from just looking things up on the Internet. When a source says, “I did my own research,” but lacks credentials or proper context, that is a red flag.
Firsthand experience is often more reliable than second-hand stories. If someone shares a personal account of what they directly experienced, it is more trustworthy compared to when someone retells a friend’s story or a social media post.
A person can be a genuine expert in one area, but not a credible person when it comes to some other topic. Expertise is not transferrable! A renowned scientist may be an authority on physics, but that does not make them an expert on politics, health, the environment, ethics, sports, or economics. The same in the other directions. Sports heroes, movie stars, and pop idols are experts in their own domains, but their opinions on things outside of their domains count only as much as any other non-expert’s opinion on that same topic.
If not, be skeptical. Information is always evolving, especially in fields like science, technology, popular culture, current events, and health. If a source’s knowledge is outdated, it could be misleading or incorrect.
Trustworthy sources can back up their statements with reasons and evidence. If someone says, “I just know it,” or, “Trust me,” without offering evidence, they are not credible.
Past behavior is a strong indicator of future behavior. If the person is a known liar, be skeptical. To quote The Who hit Baba O’Riley, “Why get fooled again?” If a person has been known to lie or manipulate facts, then it is wise to treat any new claims with caution.
If the source is biased, be skeptical. Bias can significantly distort information. This one can be tricky because there are more kinds of bias than race, gender, age, and sexual orientation. There are, for example, regional biases, professional biases, and economic biases. Identifying potential biases helps assess the objectivity of the information. Yes, we all come at issues from our own perspectives. That does not automatically make us all biased. A biased person is the one who refuses to give fair and reasonable consideration to the perspectives of other people.
As the saying goes, does the person have a “dog in the fight”? Conflicts of interest can influence people to present information in a way that benefits themselves. Ask what this person stands to gain if I believe what they are saying. If the person has a financial, political, or personal incentive driving them to get you to believe something or to act in a specific way, be very skeptical. Demand full disclosure and transparency.
If the person is under duress, be skeptical. A person who is being coerced may say anything to make the threat, uncontrollable craving, or problem go away. Blackmail, addiction, blind loyalty, abusive relationships, and fear of retribution can all lead a person to say things that we should not believe.
If not, be skeptical. Sadly, we all have been drawn in by people whom we love but who are, unfortunately, mentally unstable. The disjointed, exaggerated, and bizarre assertions of people with failing memories, mental illness, or early symptoms of dementia, no matter how forcefully presented, are not reliable statements of fact. Verify them yourself before you believe them.
To sum up: It is not easy figuring out who or what to believe these days. So many contradictory claims fly at us from so many different sources. That is why taking a moment to apply our critical thinking is crucial, so we do not get fooled and manipulated.
A healthy amount of skepticism is always in order. Stay curious, but cautious. Ask questions, seek evidence, and remember: credible information stands up to scrutiny.
