Media Literacy and Fake News
Media literacy is the ability to judge whether information is trustworthy, important in the age of social media and fake news.
▶ Interact
Play with the controls to see the idea in action.
📘 Learn
Media literacy is the ability to judge whether information is trustworthy, important in the age of social media and fake news.
- Check sources and dates
- Look for evidence
- Beware of emotional headlines
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Media Literacy and Fake News?
Within Economics & Civics, which covers money, markets, business, government, law and citizenship: how societies are organised and run, this topic explains Media Literacy and Fake News. Economics and civics topics explain how money, markets, laws and government affect people, so each topic here pairs a clear definition with a model.
Check that you can explain Media Literacy and Fake News in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Media Literacy and Fake News helps you read the news critically and weigh up policies, choices and arguments about society.
Media Literacy and Fake News in detail
Media literacy is the ability to access, analyse and create media critically. Fake news is false or misleading information presented as news, often created to deceive, attract clicks or influence opinion, and it spreads quickly on social media. Misinformation is false information shared without intent to harm, while disinformation is deliberately false.
To check a story, consider the source and its reputation, look at the date, check the evidence and quotes, see if reputable outlets report the same, look at images (reverse image search) and notice emotional headlines. Be aware of confirmation bias, the tendency to believe what fits what we think. Pausing before sharing limits the spread.
How the interactive helps you understand Media Literacy and Fake News
Watch the network in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the network responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Media Literacy and Fake News.
Real-life uses and examples
- Relate Media Literacy and Fake News to a news story about prices, jobs, elections or government spending.
- Use Media Literacy and Fake News to weigh up the pros and costs of a policy or decision.
- Explain Media Literacy and Fake News to a classmate using a choice you make yourself, such as spending pocket money.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Giving an opinion without evidence or a clear economic or civic reason.
- Confusing a short-term effect with a long-term one.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Media Literacy and Fake News
What is Media Literacy and Fake News?
Media literacy is the ability to judge whether information is trustworthy, important in the age of social media and fake news.
What are the most important points about Media Literacy and Fake News?
The main points are: Check sources and dates; Look for evidence; Beware of emotional headlines.
Why is Media Literacy and Fake News useful?
Understanding Media Literacy and Fake News helps you read the news critically and weigh up policies, choices and arguments about society.
How can I practise Media Literacy and Fake News?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Media Literacy and Fake News?
Related topics in Economics & Civics include The European Union and Trade Blocs, Sustainable Development Goals, Refugees and Asylum.