But with this surge in access to news comes great waves of misinformation: fake news on a gargantuan scale, often traveling faster and further than the truth. Now, it\u2019s got to the point where being able to tell real and what\u2019s fake on the internet takes up some real energy – so <\/span>how do we help ourselves, and in turn, our kids to spot fake news online<\/b>?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The challenge of misinformation is not new, but it has been a growing cause for concern, exacerbated by the rise of technology.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While <\/span>68% of Americans<\/span><\/a> say they get their news from news websites or apps, 53% affirm that they typically get it from social media\u00a0 – a source which has typically not been subject to the same content rules as TV, radio, print and other traditional media.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On social media, news and information can often stray from fact towards opinion, and the two become viewed as one. And in a world where we are looking to protect free speech, censorship of unfounded opinions can be a challenge.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Fake news can be spread as a form of misinformation or disinformation (false information deliberately spread to make people believe something different). <\/span>There are many reasons an individual or company might want to spread fake news<\/b>, including:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The fast-paced nature of news in the online world also means that journalists could potentially publish incorrect information without being able to verify or check as scrupulously as they normally would.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Fake news is not always created by journalists or organizations. As a way of causing conflict on social media, <\/span>online trolls<\/b><\/a> often \u201cbait\u201d users with fake news, hoping to spark anger, argument, and outrage<\/b>. Trolls revel in causing tension and upset, which makes fake news a tempting tool for them to use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So with all this to contend with, how do you separate the fact from the fiction?<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2020\/11\/27110037\/2022-08_How-to-teach-your-kids-to-identify_InsideImage.jpg” alt=”How to teach your kids to identify fake news” title_text=”2022-08_How to teach your kids to identify_InsideImage” align=”center” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 1. Make sure your child is aware that fake news exists.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n It sounds so basic, but many children might not even realize that what they read might not be true. Children tend to be more trusting and naive than adults, so step one is letting them know that there are people who lie online.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 2. Teach your child to ask challenging questions.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Encourage your children not to accept content at face value. Teach them to understand <\/span>why, how and what <\/span><\/i>has been shared with them, and to be critical observers of the content they consume.\u00a0 Encourage questions such as:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 3. Find a way to <\/strong>check the source of the information.<\/b><\/p>\n If there isn\u2019t a reliable source, can it be trusted?<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 4. Look up the URL or site name.<\/b><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 5. Block apps and websites that are generators of fake news<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Parental control tools like Qustodio can help you set up blocks across devices.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 6. Make sure your child checks multiple sources<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n See what other news sources have to say about the same topic. Be sure to include news sources from other countries or political points of view.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 7. Help your child create the lifelong habit of \u201cthink before you share\u201d.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n We are not just consumers, but also contributors to the content environment. If you have any doubt that the content may be false, misleading or harmful in any way, don\u2019t share it. <\/span><\/p>\n If you feel your child is ready for social media<\/a>, and to begin sharing content, make sure to set up clear outlines and expectations first. Encourage your friends and family to <\/span>think critically <\/b>about the content that they share \u2013 and feel free to hold others accountable for sharing misleading content.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 8. Trust your instinct<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n If something feels \u201coff\u201d, it probably is.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 9. Learn more about fake news, together.<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The internet has changed the way that we consume news. Gone are the days where we could read an interesting article and move on. Now, we can forward the story to hundreds on WhatsApp, make a YouTube commentary on it, or even Tweet our own version of the story and our feelings.\u00a0 But with this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":37573,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Today, news is everywhere - from traditional sources like the New York Times, CNN and the BBC to newer feeds like Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp.\u00a0 But with the surge in access to news has come a surge in misinformation: fake news, which often travels faster and further than the truth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> On February 25th 2020, a month before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of The World Health Organisation said \u201cwe\u2019re not just fighting an epidemic; we\u2019re fighting an infodemic. Fake news spreads faster and more easily than this virus, and is just as dangerous.<\/a>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p> While the challenge of misinformation is not new, it has been a growing cause for concern, exacerbated by the rise of technology. In recent years organisations like The Center for Humane Technology<\/a>, have cast a spotlight on the influence misinformation is having on our politics and society. But with lives now more directly at stake with Covid-19, misinformation about the pandemic has brought the topic of fake news into the spotlight.\u00a0<\/p> Today, in the U.K, 45% of people get their news from social media<\/a>. This is even higher for children. As such, social media platforms which have not been subject to the same content rules as TV, radio, print and other traditional news sources, are facing increasing scrutiny from regulators for their role in the dissemination of content.\u00a0 They have started to take some action.\u00a0 In March, Facebook, Reddit, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube issued a joint statement<\/a>, in which they committed to helping people stay connected during the pandemic while also combating rising fraud and misinformation about the virus.\u00a0 The result has been a series of blocks around content, most recently including Donald Trump\u2019s false claims about Coronavirus.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> Fortunately, understanding when a scientific claim is true is relatively straight-forward. Take for example, debunking the myth that 5G masts cause COVID-19<\/a>. This can be fact checked by independent scientists and quickly shown to be untrue.\u00a0 But news and information can often stray from fact towards opinion. And in a world where we are looking to protect free speech, censorship of unfounded opinions can be a challenge.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> This leads to important questions: What is fake news exactly? What is the difference between fake news and opinion? <\/strong>The debate continues with respect to the responsibility that content distribution platforms have when it comes to curating the content that their users share. No matter where you draw the line, we are all consuming a daily diet of both fact and fiction<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p> And, it\u2019s everyone\u2019s responsibility to spot fake news - a difficult job that is even more challenging for kids.<\/em> As Covid continues to spread, and with the U.S. presidential elections right around the corner, now, more than ever, is a crucial time to teach your children digital literacy<\/em> - the right way to consume news. Here are my tips on how to help your child or teen spot fake news.\u00a0 <\/p><\/div>What caused the rise of fake news?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Why spread fake news? <\/b><\/h2>\n
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How to spot fake news: Tips for parents<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Expert tips for parents to teach children and teens media literacy - the right way to consume news.<\/h2><\/div>
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\r\n<\/div>Fake news tips for parents<\/h2><\/div>
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\r\n\u00b7How did you find the content? <\/strong>
\r\n\u00b7How was it shared with you? <\/strong>
\r\n\u00b7Do you trust who shared it?<\/strong>
\r\n\u00b7Who created or wrote the content?<\/strong>
\r\n\u00b7<\/strong>Who might benefit or be harmed by it?
\r\n\u00b7<\/strong>Why did they make it?
\r\n\u00b7Is someone getting paid for this content? <\/strong>\u00a0
\r\n\u00b7<\/strong>What is the news not saying?
\r\n\u00b7Is part of the story being omitted?<\/strong>
\r\n\u00b7<\/strong>Do you trust what you are reading to be true?
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\r\n\u00b7 <\/strong>Do you recognise or trust it? Is the content high quality?
\r\n\u00b7 Are their spelling or grammatical mistakes?<\/strong>
\r\n\u00b7 <\/strong>Is the language unnecessarily sensationalist?
\r\n\u00b7 <\/strong>Can you find the same story on other more trusted sources like your national public news site? Is the site overloaded with advertising or other \u2018clickbait\u2019<\/strong>?
\r\n\u00b7 <\/strong>Does the associated content look reliable?\u00a0
\r\n\u00b7 <\/strong>See Professor Melissa Zimdars of Merrimack College for <\/a>more tips.
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\r\n\u00b7 <\/strong>Watch The Social Dilemma<\/a>.\u00a0 Use it as an opportunity to discuss as a family the influence technology and the spread of content has on our decision making and society.\u00a0
\r\n\u00b7 <\/strong>Explore the extensive resources on fake news from both Common Sense Media<\/a> and Ofcom<\/a>.
\r\n\u00b7 <\/strong>Consider using a news app like Ground News<\/a>, which will highlight the bias in the content you are reading and present an alternative with a different perspective.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ol><\/div>Footnotes:<\/strong><\/h3>
Further reading on online safety and digital wellbeing:<\/strong><\/h3>