The “digital natives” of today are often referred to as “technical experts” because they are used to using apps and platforms that have become a vital part of everyday life. The problem is that today’s teens, although they can’t remember a time before the internet, are remarkably naïve when separating fact from fiction on the internet.
Several recent studies have found that teens have difficulty distinguishing accurate messages about health from fake ones. The Comenius University in Slovakia presented 300 secondary school students with announcements regarding the health benefits of specific fruits and vegetables.
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Study results indicate that 48% of participants rated trustworthy messages over fake ones. Participants rated accurate statements only marginally more reliable than fake messages, with 41% unable to distinguish between them.
Interestingly, teens’ perceptions of their trustworthiness were unaffected by the editorial changes to messages. Researchers found that clickbait headlines were not significantly more trusted than a true health message, according to a news release by Radomr Masaryk, the study’s principal investigator.
Given the alarming spread of health-related misinformation, there is an urgent need to teach kids and teens how to evaluate online news sources for credibility. Schools are increasingly mandating media literacy instruction, and these skills are commonly called media literacy.
The effectiveness of such education has been demonstrated. A study conducted in 2021 by the Stanford History Education Group found that students improved their ability to evaluate sources after receiving six one-hour lessons over three months from trained teachers in evaluation strategies.
Aiden DeMarsey, a recent high school graduate, said he stays away from social media platforms when seeking out news online and sticks with “trustworthy sources” like AP and New Jersey Globe.
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Can Parents Help Their Kids Discern Fake And Real News?
Even though you are not leading the classroom, there are various ways you can help your children develop these skills.
- Educate your children about news stories
- Embrace the principle of “good information” as outlined by Polites
- Monitor your teen’s media consumption
- Engage your teen in a discussion about media literacy
- Make use of online resources