Boosting Digital Literacy: Teaching Kids About Fake News and Facts

Why Digital Literacy Matters for Kids Today

In a world where kids can use devices before they even know how to tie their shoes, digital literacy is no longer optional—it's essential. Teaching children how to navigate our digital world is just as important as teaching them how to read and cross the street safely. But what exactly does digital literacy mean for kids?

Digital literacy refers to a child's ability to use technology safely and effectively. It involves knowing how to find, question, and share information online, and how to stay safe doing it. When we talk about online safety, it’s not just about setting parental controls or monitoring screen time. It's about helping our kids build digital skills that last a lifetime!

In the age of YouTube, TikTok, and even tools like ChatGPT, children are exposed to a constant stream of content. Some of it is educational, entertaining, and misleading. Especially for tweens and teens, the internet has become a central part of how they socialize and learn. That’s why internet safety must include more than just warnings about strangers online. It needs to address misinformation and bias, while building critical thinking skills.

How to Teach Kids About Fake News

If we want our kids to be able to think critically about the information they find and see online, we have to start by teaching them how to recognize what’s true and what’s not. But how do you teach kids about fake news?

Start by introducing the concept of media literacy. Media literacy means understanding how media is created, who creates it, and why. It helps kids question what they see, instead of thinking it’s true right away.

Define and explore fake news in kid-friendly ways:

• Say, “Fake news is when someone shares a story or video that isn’t true. They might do this by mistake or to trick people.”
• Use real-world examples like, a viral video claiming a celebrity has died (when they haven’t). Show them how to spot outrageous claims or suspicious websites.
• Turn how to spot fake news into a game or challenge. Read headlines together and guess whether they’re true. Then do a quick search to find out.

5 Fact-Checking Skills Every Child Should Learn

Once your child understands that everything online is not true, they need tools to figure out what is. Here are five, fact-checking skills for kids to use online:

1. Check the Source: Teach them to ask questions like, “Who made this?” and to look at the “About” section of websites. Reliable information usually comes from known and trusted sources.
2. Cross-Reference the Story: If a story sounds shocking, help your child check other sites to see if the same news is reported elsewhere. Real news is usually covered by more than one source.
3. Look for a Date: Sometimes old stories resurface and are mistaken for current news. Show your child how to look at the date to help them understand the context of the story.
4. Spot Emotional Language: Fake or misleading news often tries to make us feel angry or scared. If something feels over-the-top, it probably is worth a second look.
5. Use Fact-Checking Tools: Introduce them to age-appropriate tools or parent-approved websites like, Snopes.com or Newsela.com, where you can check stories together. Some apps and browser extensions can also help flag questionable content.

Talking to Your Child About What They See Online

No filter, app, or algorithm can replace the value of a trusted adult. One of the most powerful ways to support your child is by maintaining open conversations about media and the internet. When your child shares a video or news link, resist the urge to jump in with judgment. Instead, get curious!

• Ask questions like, “Where did you find that?” “What made you click on it?” and “Why do you think someone would post that?” This invites your child into a conversation, rather than a lecture. It can also give you insight into how they think and what they’re seeing.
• Use daily moments like, scrolling TikTok, watching YouTube, or reading online reviews together, to model how you think through information. When you say out loud, “Hmm, I don’t know if that’s true. Let me check,” you’re showing that taking the time to evaluate information matters.

3 Parenting Tips for Digital Safety

1. Add shared screen time to your plan where you browse online together.
2. Create a “pause and check” rule before sharing or reposting content.
3. Encourage your child to come to you if something online makes them uneasy or confused.

The internet isn’t going anywhere, and neither is misinformation! Boosting digital literacy means building a new kind of street smarts—one that helps our kids cross the wild online roads safely, one fact at a time.