Helping Tamariki To Spot Fake News

Why does it matter?

• Kids may be confused or misled about what they see which could impact on their learning and wellbeing if they start to feel anxious about something.
• Some fake news is either deliberately hateful or aimed at people in minority groups which can have offline consequences.

Netsafe’s top tips for tamariki

1. Explain what fake news is, how it’s created and why skills are needed to determine what’s fact and what’s fake.
2. Teach children to factcheck – explain what sites are trustworthy, where you get information from and how you check the reliability of what you see.
3. Hone critical thinking skills. Encourage children to ask themselves does this sound right? Is there another explanation for this information? Could this be a joke?
4. Encourage children to read beyond a headline before they take something at face value or share it with other people.
5. Build digital literacy. Critical thinking skills are more relevant now. Teach children to be cautious, vigilant, and creative digital citizens