Brazilian kids learn to tell news fact from fiction

– Brazil has taken a stand against the explosion of fake news stories swamping the internet by making media analysis studies compulsory for schoolchildren.

Around the world, debates proliferate about the problem of unfettered information flooding social media, uploaded by people with no consideration for journalist ethics, impartiality or even the truth. Of serious concern is the effect such misinformation can have on those most impressionable.

“The aim is to teach students to identify fake news and now it’s part of the national curriculum because the country has decided it is necessary,” said Leandro Beguoci, editorial head at Brazilian education specialists Nova Escola.

“The proliferation of social media networks have created an urgent situation in this respect.”

Media analysis studies became compulsory in December 2017, but have been offered alongside traditional subjects like maths and history for years in some schools.

Kayo Rodrigues, 14, said the Brazilian press is not perfect, but plays a vital role in combating fake news “because not everyone has the internet or the tools to check facts.” She enrolled in the Young Press programme launched six years ago in the Casa Blanca public school in Sao Paulo.

At Casa Blanca, teachers Lucilene Varandas and Hildenor Gomes do Santos ensure their students, aged eight to 14 years, know not to take everything they watch or read at face value.

“When I receive a piece of information, I look for it on the internet and ask myself if it’s true,” said 11-year-old Helena Vital, whose parents are teachers.

She said the programme has taught her to view the media from a different perspective.

“Now I know that things aren’t so bad, the whole country isn’t going to collapse,” added Vital, who said consuming news without questioning it “leaves people sad” and that “there are many negative things that aren’t true.” – AFP