Students in England could soon learn how to spot fake news online

Under planned curriculum changes, children in England will learn to recognise misinformation and extremist online content. Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has announced a review to embed critical thinking skills across subjects, with the aim of protecting children from online conspiracy theories online. Examples include teaching students in English lessons how to analyse newspaper articles to distinguish between fabricated and true stories, in computer lessons how to spot fake news, and in maths lessons learn how to analyse statistical information in context. Bridget Phillipson has highlighted the need to equip young people with the skill to challenge online content, ensuring that high standards in core subjects remain a priority. “It’s more important than ever that we give young people the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge what they see online” she explains. Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has also expressed the need to strengthen social media regulations, since current legislation does not go far enough in protecting children from viewing misinformation. To read more, click here.