What is fake news and how do I spot it?

First News Videos

DO you know what fake news is and can you tell when you are reading it?

First News has joined forces with the National Literacy Trust for an inquiry into fake news and how you are taught about it.

Fake news means a news story that looks real, but has been made up, perhaps as a joke, to encourage people to click on a web page, to advertise something or to try to influence certain things, such as election results.

With so much information available on the internet, which can be shared quickly on social media, it can be difficult to tell whether a story is real or fake.

A recent report by the National Literacy Trust found that young people need to be taught the skills to identify fake news. For example, learning the difference between fact and opinion, and understanding how authors use language to influence people.

How much do you really know about fake news?

As part of the inquiry, the National Literacy Trust would like to find out how much you know about fake news and what support your teachers might need to teach the subject. There are surveys for primary and secondary school pupils and their teachers at www.literacytrust.org.uk/fakenews. The surveys are open until 22 October, so be sure to make your voice heard.

Learn more about fake news with First News’ Ben and Dan in the video above.

Get to grips with other issues in the news with other ‘I Don’t Get It’ videos.