The video was prepared by Ucha.se and Media Literacy Coalition for High School Students
The concepts of \“fake news\“ and \“disinformation\“ may not be new, much like the phenomena they describe, but in recent years their spread has become so massive that you can\’t help but hear at least one of the two. As well as gaining popularity due to the widespread use of social media, however, the phenomenon of the so-called fake news has become a significant problem for democratic societies. It has brought with it a growing confusion, a loss of trust in established institutions and authority, polarization, radicalization.
Even if they don\’t care much about news and politics, children are also vulnerable to all forms of manipulation, including misleading and false statements, while searching for and viewing content online and communicating. Critical thinking and the ability to fact-check and assess the information they fall into is therefore key to their well-being and future participation in civil society in a responsible and ethical manner.
This video tutorial is designed to help not only students, but also teachers and parents to better understand what fake news is, who and why produces and distributes them, and how only through media literacy can its spread and effects be countered.
This video lesson was created by I Ucha.se in cooperation with the Media Literacy Coalition and is part of the Media Literacy Days 2021 campaign. The project is implemented with the financial support of the American Embassy in Bulgaria (The Bulgaria Small Grants Program).
The video is suitable for a media literacy class or civic education class or discussions. The Media Literacy Coalition recommends that it be viewed in the family and discussed in an informal environment.