Teaching kids to spot fake news

With the proliferation of fake news and the likelihood that it's here to stay, California has joined a short list of states to mandate a "media literacy" curriculum in its schools.

The law aims to teach students how to recognize falsified data and fake news as well as generate responsible internet content. A well-intended law passed in 2018 made media literacy materials available to educators but didn't require their use.

Education researcher Alice Huguet says the lessons teach good digital citizenship—"interacting responsibly with others online, recognizing the importance of digital privacy, and 'engaging in civil dialogue with peers.'"

In its current form, the law isn't without its issues, but it's an important step toward teaching students how to navigate the increasingly "perilous waters" of the internet.