18 WebsiteCompass FAQs Dr. Webbie Answers your frequently asked questions QUESTION: What makes something trend on social media? ANSWER: A trending topic or hashtag is one that is popular on social media at a given moment, and it’s the result of algorithms used by the platform to identify popular topics and keywords. These algorithms are designed to analyze the activity—such as the number of likes, comments, shares, and searches. This determines the content and topics generating the most engagement. Once a topic reaches a certain threshold of activity, it’s labeled as trending and prominently displayed on the platform’s homepage. There are a variety of factors that contribute to a topic, post, or hashtag trending on social media. They include: • Relevance: Trending topics are often related to current events, news stories, or pop culture. If something is timely and relevant, it’s more likely to generate engagement and become trending. • Virality: Social media is all about sharing content. If something is shared widely, it’s more likely to start trending. Viral content can quickly spread across platforms, leading to a surge in engagement and interest. • Controversy: Controversial topics or issues often generate a lot of engagement as people debate and discuss their opinions. This can lead to a topic becoming trending, even if it’s not necessarily popular. • Influencers: Influencers with large followings can have a significant impact on what becomes trending on social media. If an influencer shares a post or uses a hashtag, it can quickly gain traction and start to trend. The trends you see on your platforms are based on your location, who you follow, and the content you like. QUESTION: How can I determine if a website is credible? ANSWER: All of us have encountered websites that led to false information. When browsing recreationally, this may not be much of an issue. However, when we’re seeking vitally important information about topics such as health concerns, it’s imperative that we stick to websites that are factual and credible. Look for the following: • Accuracy: The author or entity that created the content should be crystal clear. This is usually presented in the “Mission” or “About Us” section of the website. There should also be a way to contact the author/organization. If you can’t determine who or what generated the content, it’s probably because they don’t want you to know. • Authority: The credentials and expertise of the author or organization should be available, and sources should be listed for any “facts,” graphs, or statistical information. Sometimes it’s helpful to search within .edu, .org, or .gov domains. • Currency: When was the last time the website was updated? If there are dead links or obviously outdated content, this can be a sign that the website isn’t being properly maintained. • Security: Checking for security indicators is another great way to assess a website’s credibility. For starters, HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is usually more secure than HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) because it uses encryption methods to protect your data. HTTPS also authenticates your connection, which ensures that the website you’re interacting with is legitimate.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTMzNDE=