About Our Sources

Our Approach to Sources

The quality of a source matters because not all information carries the same level of authority, accuracy, context, or reliability.

Our sourcing approach depends on the subject. A Social Security article, for example, may require a different type of source than a product guide, travel article, or technology tutorial.

We aim to use sources that are appropriate for the question being answered and to prefer primary or authoritative information when the subject makes that especially important.

Primary Sources

When practical, we prefer primary sources for factual claims that can be verified directly.

Primary sources may include:

• Government agencies
• Original regulations or official guidance
• Official program documentation
• Manufacturer specifications
• Product manuals
• Company terms and policies
• Original research papers
• Official statistics and datasets
• Direct statements from an organization

What We Look for in a Source

Health and Wellness Sources

Health-related content requires particular care because inaccurate or incomplete information can affect important personal decisions.

Depending on the topic, we may reference sources such as:

• Government health agencies
• Recognized medical organizations
• Hospitals and healthcare systems
• Universities and academic medical centers
• Professional medical associations
• Peer-reviewed research
• Regulatory agencies
• Official manufacturer safety information

We aim to distinguish between established medical guidance, preliminary research, manufacturer claims, and general wellness information.

Health content on 60AndOver.net is informational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Social Security, Medicare, and Government Sources

For information about government programs, eligibility, benefits, regulations, deadlines, and official requirements, we generally prefer information published directly by the relevant government agency.

Depending on the subject, sources may include official federal, state, or local government websites and publications.

Government rules can change, so readers should confirm critical decisions directly with the applicable agency when appropriate.

Financial and Retirement Sources

Financial information may involve changing interest rates, benefit rules, tax provisions, insurance terms, market conditions, lending requirements, or other time-sensitive information.

Depending on the subject, we may use:

• Government agencies
• Regulatory agencies
• Financial institutions
• Official plan or product documents
• Established research organizations
• Industry data
• Qualified professional resources

Financial content is provided for educational purposes and should not be treated as individualized financial, tax, legal, or investment advice.

Product Sources

Product content often requires more than one source because different sources answer different questions.

We may use manufacturer websites and product manuals for factual specifications such as:

• Dimensions
• Materials
• Compatibility
• Capacity
• Included accessories
• Warranty terms
• Technical features

Retailer information may also help with current pricing, availability, seller details, and customer feedback.

Manufacturer or seller claims are not automatically treated as independent evidence of quality or effectiveness.

For more information about product evaluation, please review How We Review Products .

Travel Sources

Travel content can change quickly, so current official sources are especially important.

Depending on the topic, we may reference:

• Airlines
• Airport authorities
• Cruise lines
• Hotels and booking providers
• Government travel information
• Tourism boards
• Transportation agencies
• Travel insurance providers

Prices, schedules, accessibility information, entry requirements, cancellation terms, and availability should be confirmed directly with the applicable provider before booking or traveling.

Technology Sources

Technology content may rely on manufacturer documentation, software documentation, official support resources, technical specifications, release information, and reputable independent technical sources.

Because software, services, operating systems, and device features change frequently, older technical information may become outdated even when it was correct when originally published.

Data and Statistics

Statistics can be misleading when they are separated from their original timeframe, population, methodology, or context.

When we use data, we try to consider:

• Who collected the data
• When it was collected
• Which population it represents
• How large the sample was
• Whether the methodology is explained
• Whether the data is still current

We avoid presenting statistics as universal facts when the source only applies to a specific population or timeframe.

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources can be useful for explanation, context, analysis, or identifying relevant primary information.

Examples may include established news organizations, educational publications, professional resources, or reputable specialist websites.

When a claim can be checked against a primary source, we may prefer the primary source for the underlying factual information.

User Reviews and Personal Experiences

Customer reviews, forum discussions, comments, and personal experiences can provide useful perspective, but they are not the same as verified factual evidence.

Individual experiences may vary and can be affected by preferences, expectations, circumstances, or factors not visible to other readers.

We may use user experiences as context, but we generally do not rely on them alone for important factual, medical, financial, or safety claims.

Commercial Sources

A source can still provide useful factual information even when it has a commercial interest.

For example, a manufacturer may be the authoritative source for its own product dimensions, while not being an independent source for whether the product is the best choice.

We consider the role and incentives of commercial sources when deciding how their information should be used.

Affiliate Relationships and Sources

Some companies referenced on 60AndOver.net may also participate in affiliate relationships with the Website.

An affiliate relationship does not automatically make a source unreliable, but compensation should not determine whether a claim is treated as factual or whether a product receives favorable coverage.

More information is available in our Affiliate Disclosure and Editorial Policy .

AI, Automation, and Source Verification

Software and artificial intelligence may assist with portions of research organization, drafting, analysis, or technical work.

Automated output is not treated as an authoritative source simply because it is generated quickly or presented confidently.

When a factual claim requires verification, we aim to check the underlying information against appropriate sources rather than relying solely on generated text.

When Sources Disagree

Reliable sources can sometimes provide different figures, interpretations, recommendations, or conclusions.

When that happens, we may consider:

• Which source has direct authority over the question
• Which information is most current
• Whether the sources are discussing different populations
• Differences in methodology or definitions
• Whether one source is reporting preliminary information

Where disagreement is important to understanding the topic, we may explain that uncertainty rather than presenting one interpretation as unquestionably settled.

Broken or Changed Sources

External websites can remove pages, change URLs, revise documents, or update information after we publish an article.

We may update or replace broken links when they are identified.

A broken external link does not necessarily mean the information was inaccurate when the page was originally published.

Updating Sources

We periodically review content where information is likely to change, especially topics involving government programs, health guidance, financial rules, products, technology, and travel.

Updates may include replacing outdated sources, checking newer official guidance, refreshing statistics, or correcting information that no longer reflects the current situation.

Corrections and Source Issues

If a source is found to be inaccurate, outdated, misinterpreted, or inappropriate for the claim it supports, we may revise the affected content.

Readers can report possible source problems or factual errors. More information is available in our Corrections Policy .

Related Editorial Standards