Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Perennial sources/all/CNET
 | This page is a test version of a potential new layout for the Perennial sources project. It is a demo and not part of the live listings. See Talk. |
 | This source in a nutshell: CNET is considered  generally reliable. See § Summary. |
pre-October 2020
[edit]| type | website |
|---|---|
| shortcut | WP:CNET |
| status | generally reliable |
| deprecated | no |
| blacklisted | no |
| recency | 2023 |
| Domain cnet.com | |
| in source code spamcheck tool | |
Summary
[edit]CNET is considered generally reliable for its technology-related articles prior to its acquisition by Red Ventures in October 2020. In 2023, Red Ventures began deleting thousands of old CNET articles; website content may no longer be available unless archived.[1]
Excerpt
[edit]CNET (short for "Computer Network") is an American media website that publishes reviews, news, articles, blogs, podcasts, and videos on technology and consumer electronics globally. CNET originally produced content for radio and television in addition to its website before applying new media distribution methods through its internet television network, CNET Video, and its podcast and blog networks.
Discussions
[edit]Links
[edit]- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 4#GameSpot and CNET
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 24#Media Awareness Network
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 30#AV-comparatives
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 40#Download pages as source for notability?
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 52#Sources for information on the theft
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 63#TorrentFreak
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 66#Rumor sites such as MacRumors and AppleInsider
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 71#Bose References
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 75#National Names Database
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 101#CNET
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 120#TorrentFreak
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 134#The Pirate Bay is said in wiki-voice that it is an commercial website
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 162#Can videos be RS in a BLP?
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 165#Sources at Nokia Lumia 1520
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 180#"Editor Reviews" and affiliate marketing (on CNET)
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 197#TorrentFreak, again
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 398#Beware: CNet running AI-generated articles, byline "CNet Money"
Recency
[edit]2023
October 2020 – October 2022
[edit]| type | website |
|---|---|
| status |  no consensus |
| deprecated | no |
| blacklisted | no |
| recency | 2025 |
| Domain cnet.com | |
| in source code spamcheck tool | |
Summary
[edit]CNET was acquired by digital marketing company Red Ventures in October 2020, leading to a deterioration in editorial standards. Staff writers were pressured by company executives to publish content more favorably to advertisers in order to benefit Red Ventures' business dealings; this included both news stories and reviews.
Discussions
[edit]Links
[edit]Recency
[edit]2025
November 2022 – 2025
[edit]| type | website |
|---|---|
| status |  generally unreliable |
| deprecated | no |
| blacklisted | no |
| recency | 2025 |
| Domain cnet.com | |
| in source code spamcheck tool | |
| RFCs | |
| link | Rfc |
| date | 2025 |
| more rfcs | see § #Rfcs |
Summary
[edit]Concerns over CNET's advertiser-driven editorial content remain unresolved. Separately, in November 2022, it began deploying an experimental AI tool to rapidly generate articles riddled with factual inaccuracies and affiliate links, with the purpose of increasing SEO rankings. CNET never formally disclosed its use of AI until Futurism and The Verge published reports exposing its actions. An AI tool now announced to be paused wrote more than 70 finance-related articles and published them under the byline "CNET Money Staff", over half of which received corrections after mounting pressure. In August 2024 CNET was purchased by Ziff Davis, which may mean that the reasons for considering it unreliable may no longer apply.
Discussions
[edit]Links
[edit]- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 398#Beware: CNet running AI-generated articles, byline "CNet Money"
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 453#CNET and ZDNET are now under Ziff Davis ownership. Should they get a new chance or continue be considered too unreliable?
- WP:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 485#CNET’s Reliability Status Should Be Reconsidered Ten Months After Ownership Change
Recency
[edit]2025
Rfcs
[edit]- 2024 Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 430#RfC: Red Ventures
- 2025 Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 471#Videos by CNET
Original table row for comparison
[edit]| Source | Status (legend) |
Discussions | Use | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List | Last | Summary | |||
| CNET (pre-October 2020) |
|
17[a] |
2023 |
CNET is considered generally reliable for its technology-related articles prior to its acquisition by Red Ventures in October 2020. In 2023, Red Ventures began deleting thousands of old CNET articles; website content may no longer be available unless archived.[2] | 1  
|
| CNET (October 2020–October 2022) |
|
1 2 3 4 |
2025 |
CNET was acquired by digital marketing company Red Ventures in October 2020, leading to a deterioration in editorial standards. Staff writers were pressured by company executives to publish content more favorably to advertisers in order to benefit Red Ventures' business dealings; this included both news stories and reviews. | 1
|
| CNET (November 2022–present) WP:CNET 📌 |
|
 2024 2025
|
2025 |
Concerns over CNET's advertiser-driven editorial content remain unresolved. Separately, in November 2022, it began deploying an experimental AI tool to rapidly generate articles riddled with factual inaccuracies and affiliate links, with the purpose of increasing SEO rankings. CNET never formally disclosed its use of AI until Futurism and The Verge published reports exposing its actions. An AI tool now announced to be paused wrote more than 70 finance-related articles and published them under the byline "CNET Money Staff", over half of which received corrections after mounting pressure. In August 2024 CNET was purchased by Ziff Davis, which may mean that the reasons for considering it unreliable may no longer apply. | 1
|
Notes and references
[edit]- ^ Sato, Mia (2023-08-09). "CNET is deleting old articles to try to improve its Google Search ranking". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ^ Sato, Mia (2023-08-09). "CNET is deleting old articles to try to improve its Google Search ranking". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-08-10.