How important is it to ensure that the information we find is actually accurate?
This turned out to be one of the most widely discussed topics within the focus groups conducted among young people aged 15 to 25 (Calabria, Italy).
The general perception is that, although accessing information is extremely easy and fast, the results of this process can often be misleading. In fact, there is an overwhelming amount of information available, and not all of it is correct. This often leads to the most common mistake: relying on sources without first verifying their reliability.
So, how can this mistake be avoided? The answer could be: check, compare, and understand.
It would be useful to verify information by reading it carefully and ensuring it comes from reliable and official sources; then, different texts and sources could be compared to gain a more accurate and comprehensive picture. Finally, it is essential to truly understand what is being read, because real knowledge lies in comprehension of the text and the topic, rather than blindly accepting what is written.
Young people have many ideas and interesting insights, and this is demonstrated by the success of this dialogue, where everyone found their voice and contributed a piece toward the future
Author: Ms Maria Lagani, psychology graduate- Master’s student. Research Team for JUMP staff (Italy)