This source has separate reliability assessments by time period or topic; each is presented in its own section below.
| type | website |
|---|---|
| status |  generally reliable |
| deprecated | no |
| blacklisted | no |
| recency | 2023 |
| Domain cnet.com | |
| In source code Spamcheck tool | |
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]
2023
No Rfcs for this assessment.
| type | website |
|---|---|
| status |  no consensus |
| deprecated | no |
| blacklisted | no |
| recency | 2025 |
| Domain cnet.com | |
| In source code Spamcheck tool | |
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.
2025
No Rfcs for this assessment.
| type | website |
|---|---|
| shortcut | WP:CNET |
| status |  generally unreliable |
| deprecated | no |
| blacklisted | no |
| recency | 2025 |
| Domain cnet.com | |
| In source code Spamcheck tool | |
| RFC | |
| link | Rfc |
| date | 2024 |
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.
2025
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.
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| 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.[1] | 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 |