CHILDLINE ADVICE: Helping your child discern the truth from all the fake news

“Don’t believe everything you read” is a saying that has been handed down through the generations, but it is as relevant today as it has ever been.

It seems almost impossible to spend a few hours on social media without some far-fetched theory or misinterpretation of the truth popping up on our screens. And with lots of people shouting “fake news” at each other, even adults can get a bit lost on what’s real and what isn’t.

At Childline, we know for young people this can be incredibly confusing, particularly as they start to form their ideas of the world around them, and can even be upsetting in some instances.

Fake news can come in many forms – a fabricated news story, heavily edited video, memes and false allegations. It can also come from lots of different sources, some of which are apparent, but some are shared so widely it can be difficult to know where they originated.

But there are ways that parents can help cut through the false information.

Encourage your child to always question what they see, read or hear. There are good news sources out there to check, and by encouraging them to stay up to date with what’s going on the world they can start to understand whether something is likely to be true.

It’s also good to ask them to think about something before they share or comment on it. If something doesn’t stand up to questioning, don’t share it.

Where they can, it is also good to check the source of the information. It’s not always possible, but there are usually reputable sources they can check to help verify, or cast doubt on, what they’ve heard.

But the most important thing you can do is to talk to your child about what they’re seeing online, and how it makes them feel. By having regular conversations about their online world, you’ll be able to build trust so they know to come to you with any concerns they have.

Childline is also still here for children, 365 days a year, over the phone or on our website, for whatever worries and questions they might have.