The internet and social media have changed the way we learn about the world around us. With so many sources of information, it can be hard to keep up with what is real and what is fake online.

Increasingly, those creating ‘fake news’ (disinformation and misinformation) are making it more difficult to spot. At times even well-established news organisations find themselves reporting on stories based on false information gathered through social networks which originate from a fake post (an example of this is the Blue whale challenge).

While having access to information is vital, the increase of fake news online, particularly around the COVID-19 pandemic, has made it more urgent to help children and young people develop their critical thinking to spot the difference between fact and fiction online.

From research, we know that only 2% of children and young people in the UK have the critical literacy skills they need to tell whether a news story is real or fake. [Source]

Explore our fake news and misinformation advice hub to learn more about what fake news is, how to protect your child from it, and how to deal with it if they have been affected by it.