How to Find the Best Tech Advice Online

If you’re trying to finish an important work assignment late at night and suddenly find yourself in a bit of a pickle due to a hardware issue, what resource do you turn to? Naturally, the internet. Stores may be shuttered and support lines are often closed, but online search engines are open 24/7. With tech, however, navigating hardware and software issues can be delicate. You certainly don’t want to follow a piece of advice only to find out that it’s done more harm than good.

But how do you make sure that the information you’re reading is true and accurate? How do you even begin to look for solutions to your pressing issues? It all starts by considering what your tech needs really are.

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What Are You Looking For?

Especially if you’re less of a tech whiz and more of an amateur when it comes to technology, you’ll want to first consider what exactly you’re looking for. Start by establishing precisely what you need help with. For instance, maybe your hard drive is causing lag or crashes, shortening your laptop’s lifespan. Next, consider how much you truly know about the issue – would you be able to troubleshoot this with a little bit of guidance, or do you need advice from the ground up? Lastly, ask yourself how significant the problem is. Is it a simple one-click fix, or is the scope of the fix a lot more complex?

Reliable Channels for Tech Advice

Now, you’ve got clarity on what answers to search for. With so many websites claiming they have the most reliable advice, it’s important to spot the imposters among the pros. In cases where you need to tinker with the hardware and open up your device, you don’t want to pry it open only to be stuck reading a subpar tutorial.

Established Tech Websites and Blogs

Tech websites and blogs that have made a name for themselves online are fantastic places to search for tech advice. Sites such as CNET, Wired, TechCrunch, and The Verge are all safe and authoritative sources that have established themselves with tech experts and carefully written guides. They’ve got plenty of material on different devices and operating systems, as well as specific troubleshooting articles to make sure readers can get back on track. These websites will typically be on the first page of Google. Otherwise, you can scroll through the results until you find one of these big names.

Online Forums

Although anyone can contribute to an online forum, they’re valuable places if you’re seeking advice on a plethora of topics. Suppose you’re navigating a forum, searching for whether a particular casino is available in Michigan based on VPN restrictions. In that case, it’s best to hop onto communities relating to that exact topic. Fellow users might have insider insight into the issue or may be able to share their personal experiences, making it a worthy resource. Reddit’s r/techsupport and Bleeping Computer are longstanding sources that are sure to get you answers quickly.

Social Media Platforms

In a similar vein to online forums, social media platforms are another popular place for user-generated tech discussions. Whether it’s X (formerly Twitter), Facebook groups, LinkedIn communities, or even a TikTok video, you could instantly reach out to millions for help. There are often existing tutorials and demos that you can use to get to the bottom of the situation.

The best part about online forums and social media platforms is the accessibility. Since the majority of tech-based issues are urgent, being able to receive responses in a matter of minutes is a huge bonus. While established tech sites have the benefit of having real experts on the team, you might be unable to find the specific information you need, or the guide could be outdated.

Vetting Tech Advice

While these sources may be generally reliable (some much more than others), don’t forget to do your due diligence and vet any tech advice you’re thinking of following. The first and most obvious thing to do would be to evaluate your source. Do some research on the website or the person posting the information and delve deep into their track record. If you’re dealing with sources that seem particularly more on the dodgy side or sites with low website authority, you’ll want to exercise extra caution.

To verify even further, cross-reference that advice with other sources. Finding multiple sources that state the same advice rather than only seeing that particular recommendation mentioned in one source can prove that the information is more reliable than not. There’s also the factor of recency, where outdated information might not apply to your make and model or the software updates that the device has undergone.

And, of course, be sure to put your own critical thinking skills to work. In times of desperation, it can be easy to accept advice at face value, but it’s worth taking a step back and thinking before potentially making the situation worse.

Conclusion

As you would with any information found online, take tech advice with a grain of salt. That doesn’t mean that you should put off the fix until you can go to a provider in person – it just means that a healthy dose of skepticism is in order. Stay trusting when it comes to online solutions, but take care to avoid advice that could damage or compromise your device. With the right approach and relying on reliable and relevant sources, you’ll be more likely to finish that work assignment and get some shut-eye.

Sumegha Gupta

A tech-freak self-motivated professional that thrives on innovation and overcoming challenges. She is a trained writer and scholarship holder. Went through with writing for a lot of big media houses. Writing is her all-time favorite job. Know more about her on facebook