Whether in social media feeds, messengers or podcasts – we are flooded with countless messages, reports and stories online every day. Sometimes it is not so easy to distinguish between truth and deception. Teaching children and young people how to recognize false information on the internet is a real challenge. This article offers practical advice on this and explains how you can talk to your child about it.
Fake news spreads particularly quickly in uncertain times. We humans are already unsettled and even experts and politicians don’t have all the answers – such as during the coronavirus crisis or wars. “Fake news” deliberately spreads rumors or even hateful reports that are intended to stir up fears and deliberately deceive us. They often offer simple explanations and can give the feeling of security. But they are not true.
These fake news items are often so cleverly crafted that they appear to be legitimate news at first glance. People who believe “fake news” share it further, so that more and more people fall for it. The problem with this is that the more often such content is clicked on, the more often it is displayed – and the more people believe it to be true. This can be problematic, especially when it comes to political posts with an extremist or populist background or when conspiracy myths are spread.
Content that can unsettle or frighten younger children in particular is also problematic. Deep fake videos in particular look deceptively real. It is therefore important to understand that not all information on the Internet is true and to know the differences between disinformation, false reports and satire.
Recognizing whether it is actually disinformation or false reports can be a tricky task. Therefore, it is helpful to follow clear steps to curb the spread of disinformation:
Source verification
Check where the message came from and who wrote it. Are the authors well-known and experts on the topic? Is it a reputable website?
Fact check
Try to verify the message with different sources. Ask yourself how up-to-date the information is and check where the figures and data mentioned come from as well as the context in which they were collected.
Checking the message form
Pay attention to the way the message is presented. Is the language serious and factual, or is emotional language and excessive capitalization used? Does the article contain catchwords such as “lying press” or similar provocative terms? Could the article be meant satirically?
Verify evidence
Make sure photos and videos match the message and are up-to-date. Pay attention to captions and whether they actually represent what is being described or are from another context.
Joint fact check
Discuss news and messages together as a family. Your child should understand that not everything on the internet can be sent via WhatsApp or comes from an AI chatbot has to be true. If you check messages together, it can gradually learn to distinguish true from false. Ask for your child’s opinion and share your own thoughts. This way, you and your child can be safer and better prepared to recognize and counteract false information on the Internet.
Here are some tips on where you can check messages and how you and your child can learn how to use them in a fun way:
