How to deal with misinformation

Impacts of scams

Scams mislead users in different ways with different outcomes. Some might take children’s money while others steal their personal information. Decentralised finance expert Ademolawa Ibrahim Ajibade identifies the following impacts of scams:

• financial loss;
• identity theft leading to poor credit score;
• mistrust of reputable sources;
• poor mental health or anxiety.

Impacts of fake videos or images

Edited images or videos can spread misinformation around news, science and even body image.

Deepfakes can show politicians or celebrities saying or doing things they never did. Or, an image used in the wrong context can spread fear and confusion.

Additionally, many influencers edit their photos to appear a certain way. Children might compare their own appearance to these unrealistic standards, leading to poor body image and, potentially, harmful behaviours.

Help children develop positive body image.

Fact-check information together

If your child has fallen for false information, they might feel embarrassed. So, take the time to review the misinformation with them. Discuss what made them think it was real, and then show them the signs that it was false. Additionally, show them what you would do to check if the information was true.

Doing this exercise together can help them critically assess information in the future.

Encourage them to fix their mistakes

If your child shared misinformation with others, encourage them to take ownership of that mistake. They could make a follow up post (if on social media) to say that what they shared was false. Additionally, they could share the correct information. It’s important that they delete the misinformation where possible.

Offer support for their wellbeing

In severe cases such as scams or impacts on body image, children might need additional support. This could include talking with a counsellor or getting support from your child’s school.

These helplines can offer support as well:

• Childline
• Ditch the Label
• The Mix
• Meic (Wales)

Help them report misleading or false content

The platforms or apps your child uses likely have policies on misleading content. Some policies are more robust than others and will take down such content while others require a little more thought.

If your child comes across misinformation or misleading content, they should report it. Show them how to do this or do it with them. Even if they aren’t sure, the moderation team can assess the content to make the decision.