Helping Kids Spot Fake News
Why is this important?
In research found by Stanford University, they stated that “young and otherwise digital-savvy students can easily be duped” when evaluating information found on social media. In surveying 203 middle school students, it was uncovered that more than 80% who viewed a native ad by the news site Slate as a real news story, based on seeing the words “sponsored content”. An alarming conclusion indicated that kids may focus more on the content of social media posts they see, rather than the sources where the news is coming from.
What can I do to help my kids identify real or fake news online?
Opening up the conversation is a great start. After all, the idea here is to help our kids develop skills to better navigate online spaces and to determine what is true and what isn’t. A great way to start the conversation is to find an online post that might be considered fake and talk about it. The conversation can be around these simple questions:
- Who made the post?
- Who is the post intended for?
- Who benefits from this post or who might be harmed by it?
- Has any information been left out that might be important?
- Are additional reliable sources reporting the same news?
Tips to help spot false news
In an effort to help reduce the limit of spreading false news, social media platforms like Facebook are doing their part by removing fake accounts, reducing distribution, and removing advertising rights. Additionally, they’ve put together a list of tips that you should look out for when coming across questionable news or posts.
- Be skeptical of headlines
Catchy headlines that sound unbelievable are likely false news stories. - Look closely at the link
False news sites may use a phony or look-alike link to pass as authentic news sources. - Investigate the source
If you’re unfamiliar with the source behind the story you come across, check their “About” section to learn more. - Watch for unusual formatting
Misspellings or awkward layouts are good signs to look for. - Consider the photos
Manipulated images or videos are often used in false news stories. Also, while a photo used may be authentic, it can be taken out of context. - Inspect the dates
News stories with timelines that don’t make sense or altered event dates are likely false. - Check the evidence
Lack of evidence or reliance on unnamed experts may indicate a false news story. - Look at other reports
If the story is reported by multiple credible sources, there’s a high chance the story is true. - Is the story a joke?
Satirical stories exist and can be hard to distinguish between false stories. Check the source to see if they’re known for parody. - Some stories are intentionally false
Don’t be afraid to question the stories you read and only share those that you know are credible.
Are there any other tips that you practice to help spot fake news? Join the conversation and share them in the comments!
@Dustin_V wrote:
Why is this important?
In research found by Stanford University, they stated that “young and otherwise digital-savvy students can easily be duped” when evaluating information found on social media. In surveying 203 middle school students, it was uncovered that more than 80% who viewed a native ad by the news site Slate as a real news story, based on seeing the words “sponsored content”. An alarming conclusion indicated that kids may focus more on the content of social media posts they see, rather than the sources where the news is coming from.
What can I do to help my kids identify real or fake news online?
Opening up the conversation is a great start. After all, the idea here is to help our kids develop skills to better navigate online spaces and to determine what is true and what isn’t. A great way to start the conversation is to find an online post that might be considered fake and talk about it. The conversation can be around these simple questions:
- Who made the post?
- Who is the post intended for?
- Who benefits from this post or who might be harmed by it?
- Has any information been left out that might be important?
- Are additional reliable sources reporting the same news?
Tips to help spot false news
In an effort to help reduce the limit of spreading false news, social media platforms like Facebook are doing their part by removing fake accounts, reducing distribution, and advertising rights. Additionally, they’ve put together a list of tips facetime app that you should look out for when coming across questionable news or posts.
- Be skeptical of headlines
Catchy headlines that sound unbelievable are likely false news stories.- Look closely at the link
False news sites may use a phony or look-alike link to pass as authentic news sources.- Investigate the source
If you’re unfamiliar with the source behind the story you come across, check their “About” section to learn more.- Watch for unusual formatting
Misspellings or awkward layouts are good signs to look for.- Consider the photos
Manipulated images or videos are often used in false news stories. Also, while a photo used may be authentic, it can be taken out of context.- Inspect the dates
News stories with timelines that don’t make sense or altered event dates are likely false.- Check the evidence
Lack of evidence or reliance on unnamed experts may indicate a false news story.- Look at other reports
If the story is reported by multiple credible sources, there’s a high chance the story is true.- Is the story a joke?
Satirical stories exist and can be hard to distinguish between false stories. Check the source to see if they’re known for parody.- Some stories are intentionally false
Don’t be afraid to question the stories you read and only share those that you know are credible.Are there any other tips that you practice to help spot fake news? Join the conversation and share them in the comments!
Much obliged for Sharing the data.
