Teenagers are exposed to social media and online news every day, but not all information is secure. Learn how to recognize fake news and protect yourself with 3 essential things to know:
Why fake news are a problem for young people
Fake news is false information that seems real. Teens often encounter it on social media, causing confusion and difficulty in understanding what is true. Young adults have to learn how to become less vulnerable to disinformation and verify sources.
Recognize bias and online misinformation
Not all false information is obvious. To figure it out if a story is convincing, ask yourself:
- Who published it and why?
- Is the content supported by respectable sources?
- Are there other credible versions of the same story?
All these questions are important for helping teens develop media literacy skills and evaluate information.
Digital and Media Literacy: Protection Tools
Digital literacy teaches safe and responsible online navigation, while media literacy helps students evaluate information, recognize fake news, and distinguish fact from opinion:
- Participate in workshops on social media, cybersecurity and online research
- Applying fact-checking to articles and videos
- Using plays and interactive activities to develop critical thinking in a fun way
Preparing teenagers for digital awareness and media literacy means making them informed and resilient citizens, helping them use the internet safely, understand what is true and make better choices.
References:
Common Sense Media – What is media literacy, and why is it important? (June, 4 2020) Common Sense Media
MDPI – Fake News Reaching Young People on Social Networks: Distrust Challenging Media Literacy MDPI
European School Education Platform – Media literacy and disinformation (digital literacy and disinformation) Piattaforma Europea Istruzione
Author: Fabiola Forgione (JUMP team – Italy)