What is fake news and misinformation?
Fake news and misinformation are terms used to describe false or misleading information presented as factual news, which can be dangerous, especially among young people.
Fake news is fictional stories presented as real journalism to support an agenda and manipulate people. Misinformation is misleading information presented as fact, intentionally or unintentionally. Either way, fake news and misinformation can be tricky to spot because they look real, but the consequences of both can be far-reaching.
When people believe something that is untrue, it can affect our thoughts and actions. It can undermine trust in the media, influence public opinion, and inflame social division. For example, we often see an uptick in fake news or misinformation being spread during election time as people try to manipulate the public to support a political agenda.
How do you help your teen tell if the news is real or fake?
There is a lot of fake news on the internet, so teach your young person not to believe something without checking it first. Here’s how:
What's the news source?
Check if the news comes from a trusted source, such as a well-known website or newspaper. If it has come from a random website or social media account you have never heard of, that is a red flag.
Who's talking about it?
See if other reliable news sources are reporting the same information. If only one place is talking about it, and nobody else is, then that is another red flag.
What are they saying?
If it seems like they are trying to push a specific point of view without giving all the facts, that could be another red flag.
How to spot a fake photo or video
With AI-generated tools readily available and evolving rapidly, spotting fake images and videos is becoming much harder. But when in doubt, and with a little investigation, you and your young person can pick what is and isn’t real. Here’s how:
What is the source of the image?
Look at the source of the image. Are they reliable? If it has come from a random website or social media account you have never heard of, that is a red flag.
Do a little investigation
Do a reverse search on Google Images to see where else the image has been used, and if there are similar images, look for alterations.
Look closely at the details
This is increasingly becoming more difficult to spot but look carefully at the background – look for distortions in hands, teeth and text. Look for details that don’t fit the image's focus point.
How teens view their online world
Australia’s teens use their digital world to stay abreast of current events – especially social media apps like Instagram and TikTok. A 2020 study by the University of Western Sydney and Queensland University of Technology found that close to half of young people pay little to no attention to the source of the news story they find online.
67%
of teens aged 15-17 that read the news online say it has a positive influence on their lives (2024 UNICEF Australia Report).
36%
of teens agree that they know how to tell fake news from real news (2020 study How young people access, perceive and are affected by news media).
Where to go for help or advice
If you’re looking for further help or advice on navigating fake news and misinformation, please contact eSafety for more information and resources.
eSafety Commissioner
