Today, many parents are concerned that their teens are frequently exposed to misinformation online. There’s no denying that digital misinformation is rampant today. Anyone can set up a website and start writing articles, uploading photos, or sharing videos, and promote the content as “news” across multiple platforms.
If you’re a parent, the idea of fighting back against an avalanche of online misinformation can feel completely overwhelming. However, you don’t have to personally disprove every piece of misinformation that your teen comes across online.
Instead, take this opportunity to teach your teen valuable digital literacy skills that they can use to navigate online environments and evaluate sources of information into adulthood. Here are a few recommendations to help you start educating your teen on digital literacy.
Set an Example of Healthy Media Consumption
As a parent, your children will start to imitate the way you interact with media at a young age, and this can continue into the teenage years. Yes, some teens like to rebel, but they’ll still naturally pick up on your habits and patterns.
Chances are, your teen will see the content you share and engage with online. Be mindful of the accounts you follow on social media and look up whether a particular claim is accurate before you share a post. If your teen has a social media account, make sure that you “friend” or follow them so that you can see what they share.
Emphasize the Value of Multiple Sources
It’s all too easy to see a post claiming something outrageous and take it at face value. Teens and adults alike can fall into this habit! That’s why it’s so important to talk to your teen about looking for information from multiple sources.
Share a few suggestions for reputable sources. You can pick a few that frequently cover multiple points of view so that your teen has a range of evidence-based perspectives to turn to when they’re unsure if something is true or not.
Discuss Current Events Together
Even if you and your teen don’t always see eye-to-eye on politics or world events, it’s a good idea to talk about current events together. They should feel free to ask you questions about major events in the news.
If they’re curious about something, and don’t have anyone to discuss it with, there’s a strong chance they’ll head online to find out what people think without getting perspectives from people they know and trust.
Talk About Red Flags for Misinformation
Your teen might not know how to spot a trustworthy source from an unreliable source. Review a few points that your teen should look for. As an example, a single social media post is not a reputable source of information.
However, an article from a major newspaper that cites numerous primary sources and includes interviews with experts will likely be more accurate. Discuss what kinds of language or format an accurate source might use in comparison to a post with disinformation.
Maintain Screen Time Limits
Finally, remember that the more time someone spends online, the easier it is for misinformation to warp their perspective. Even people with a strong sense of media literacy should have healthy screen time limits.
Viewing an endless scroll of content can have a negative effect on your mental health. Your teen might have more freedom when it comes to screen time as they get older. But you may want to establish “screen free” time in your household schedule.
Are you concerned about your teen’s exposure to misinformation online? A therapist can provide valuable guidance. Connect with us to schedule a therapy session for your teen.