ThoughtCo – Bias and Credibility

These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using an appeal to emotion or stereotypes).  The reporting is factual and usually sourced.  These are the most credible media sources. See all Least Biased Sources.

• Overall, we rate ThoughtCo as Least Biased based on minimal use of loaded language and simply answering questions with evidence. We also rate them Very High for factual reporting due to the excellent sourcing of information and assisting in fact checks.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED
Factual Reporting: VERY HIGH
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 2013, ThoughtCo is an educational website that answers questions on many topics that range from science, history, religion, and current issues. ThoughtCo’s articles are in-depth and look at both sides of issues using a Pro-Con method. According to their about page: “ThoughtCo is a premier reference site with a 20+ year focus on expert-created education content. As measured by ComScore, we are proud to be one of the top 10 information sites and a leading Internet measurement company. In 2018, ThoughtCo received a Communicator Award in the General Education category and a Davey Award in the Education category.” ThoughtCo also lists all writers and their credentials on the about page.

Read our profile on the United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

ThoughtCo is owned by Dotdash (formerly About.com), an American digital media company that publishes articles and videos about various subjects across categories, including health, home, food, finance, tech, beauty, travel, and education. It operates brands including The Balance and Investopedia, among others. Online advertising funds the website.

Analysis / Bias

In review, there isn’t any use of loaded language, and all information is very well-sourced. All topics covered are well-researched and provide clear, understandable answers for all reading levels. For example, this article, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Explained, does not use loaded language and is thoroughly sourced to credible media outlets, such as psychology journals. In general, ThoughtCo answers questions with minimal bias and evidence-based sourcing.

Failed Fact Checks

• A factual search reveals they have not failed a fact check; in fact, they have been sourced to assist in a fact check.

Overall, we rate ThoughtCo as Least Biased based on minimal use of loaded language and simply answering questions with evidence. We also rate them Very High for factual reporting due to the excellent sourcing of information and assisting in fact checks. (D. Van Zandt 2/21/2018) Updated (02/23/2024)

Source: https://www.thoughtco.com