One of the biggest challenges of the present day is trying to navigate a world full of information overload. Not to mention online misinformation.
While the internet and technology in general have their benefits (connection during the pandemic lockdowns being a big one of them), they also have their drawbacks, a key one being: Anyone can post anything about everything on the internet, and find an audience…
From flat tummy teas to dangerous political beliefs, misinformation is out there. Many (but not all) adults are savvy to the falsehoods portrayed in online content, but children do not have years of experience and critical thinking skills to help them navigate this dangerous online world.
So how do you teach your young, impressionable child to evaluate the truth of things they see and read on the internet? This is a good starting point:
- Have regular discussions with your children about the inaccuracy of many things on the internet.
- Go through a checklist of questions to ask when they read something new. Questions may include asking whether the content is an ad, who produced the content, and what may have motivated the producer of the content to post it.
- Explain the difference between ‘.com’ sites and other types of sites. This includes which ones can be trusted and which they should be wary of.
- Remind them that they can come to you with any questions they have about something they’ve seen on the internet, without you getting upset or angry.
Check out the infographic below for tips on improving screen time safety and online misinformation, making sure technology benefits rather than harms your kids.
Feature image credit: Igor Starkov / Unsplash
