Written by Yvonne Misando
The internet and social media are like a giant…magical playground, full of fun slides, swings and even games.
You can learn anything, see amazing videos, and also talk to your friends!
It’s awesome… But just like any playground, there are sometimes dangers, like a slippery patch or a hidden crack in the sidewalk. In the online world, that kind of danger is called Misinformation and Fake News.
Misinformation is just information that is wrong or inaccurate. Sometimes people share it by accident, maybe they didn’t check their facts before hitting the “share” button.
Fake News is a little trickier. This is information that is made up on purpose to trick you, maybe to make you angry, sad or just to get you to click on something.
The people who create it are like digital pranksters and their favorite trick is to make a lie look exactly like the truth. They use big, exciting pictures and scary headlines because they know those things catch your eye and make you want to share the fake stories fast!
Now, this is where you come in, your brain is like a superhero detective, and its main job is to figure out what’s real and what’s fake.
When you see something surprising or shocking online, your detective brain needs to stop and ask three simple questions before you believe it:
- Who said this? Is it your teacher, a trusted news organization, or just a random person you’ve never met? If it’s a doctor talking about health, make sure they are a real doctor!
- Where did they get the information? Do they have proof? Did they show where they learned it, or are they just guessing? If a story sounds too good to be true, or too scary to be true, it probably is.
- How does this make me feel? If a post makes you feel instantly angry or scared, that’s a big red flag! Fake News writers want you to feel that way so you stop thinking and start sharing.
Your best superpower in the online world is your ability to pause, think, and check.
If everyone uses their detective brain, we can keep the internet a great place for learning and fun… and stop the sneaky spread of lies.
Be a news superhero, only share the truth!