Not all opinions are created equal.

We know, we’ve got a huge number of them on our shelves and we see more than enough of them on social media.

But here’s the uncomfortable part. Being in print or having a platform doesn’t automatically make information trustworthy, and information from a marginalised voice doesn’t inherently make it untrustworthy.

Untrustworthy information will often rely on emotive language and hyperbole. It wants you to be angry because angry doesn’t think. It might misrepresent a counterargument or cherry pick examples that only support one side.

Next uncomfortable part. Everyone has bias. But, here’s the twist, bias isn’t inherently bad. However, identifying and acknowledging it means you’re better equipped to judge a piece of information’s reliability.

Think why it’s been written. What is its purpose? Is the author credible? What is the context? And importantly, has the information been taken out of context?

Ask yourself, is the information balanced? If not, look for the counterargument (you’re not obliged to agree with it) but it’s important to consider the weight of evidence, balance the probabilities and reach a reasoned conclusion.

And now for the hardest part. It is ok to change your mind if the evidence shows you got it wrong. This isn’t weakness, it’s growth, and in some circles, it's called learning.