{"id":39506,"date":"2017-06-26T01:14:46","date_gmt":"2017-06-26T08:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.edu\/?p=39506"},"modified":"2017-06-26T01:14:46","modified_gmt":"2017-06-26T08:14:46","slug":"help-kids-navigate-fake-news-misinformation-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/help-kids-navigate-fake-news-misinformation-online\/","title":{"rendered":"How to help kids navigate fake news and misinformation online"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Young people get a huge amount<\/a> of their news from social media feeds, where false, exaggerated or sponsored content is often prevalent. With the right tools, caregivers can give kids the knowledge they need to assess credible information for themselves.<\/p>\n

Being able to identify the trustworthiness of information is an important concern for everyone. Yet the sheer volume of material online and the speed at which it travels has made this an increasingly challenging task. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook provide a loudspeaker to anyone who can attract followers, no matter what their message or content.<\/p>\n

Fake news has the power<\/a> to normalise prejudices, to dictate us-versus-them mentalities and even, in extreme cases, to justify<\/a> and encourage<\/a> violence.<\/p>\n

We have become obsessed with getting kids off their devices at the expense of developing their understanding of the online world. This is not about surveillance, but rather about having open conversations that empower children to understand and assess the usefulness of information for themselves.<\/p>\n

Fake news is tricking children<\/strong><\/p>\n

Young people are growing up in a world where distributing large volumes of misinformation online has become a subtle yet powerful art.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise then that research published in 2016<\/a> by Stanford University suggests kids \u201cmay focus more on the content of social media posts than on their sources\u201d.<\/p>\n

For example, of 203 middle school students surveyed as part of the report, more than 80% thought a native ad on the news website Slate labelled \u201csponsored content\u201d was a real news story. A majority of high school students questioned by the researchers didn\u2019t recognise and explain the significance of the blue checkmark on a verified Fox News Facebook account.<\/p>\n

With the amount of content we see in a busy day, it\u2019s possible that these subtleties are being lost on many adults as well.<\/p>\n

Minimising the harm of fake news for kids<\/strong><\/p>\n

Helping young people navigate online spaces requires better skills in verifying what is true and what isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Here are five questions to start the conversation with children.<\/p>\n

Find an online post that you consider to be fake news and talk with the child about it. Shape your conversation around these questions:<\/p>\n