It’s likely that on more than one occasion, you’ve accepted information as true that you later discovered had nothing to do with reality. Nowadays, reaching the truth involves navigating through hoaxes and fake news, a task that’s not as simple as it may seem. To confront this reality, the state of California will introduce a new subject in schools that will assist students in distinguishing between real and fake news.
Last month, Governor Gavin Newsom signed this bill, emphasizing the need for “comprehensive media education.” Another legislator, Marc Berman, who supported the bill, highlighted the dire consequences of misinformation. As examples, he mentioned the Capitol riot and the COVID-19-related hoaxes.
In October, Berman stated they had “the responsibility to teach the next generation to be more critical of online content and to be more cautious against misinformation, propaganda, and conspiracy theories.” He also clarified that this project would help students “be more responsible about the content they post online and better understand security and privacy.”
This subject is known as “media literacy” and would be placed alongside other essential subjects like mathematics, history, English, etc. However, California isn’t the only state taking action against fake news in this manner. In January, New Jersey signed a law pursuing a very similar goal to that of California. Ultimately, the key always lies in receiving a good education.
Source: Complex.
