Fake News & Misinformation Workshop
As an educator, parent, youth service provider or community leader, do you despair at the volume of fake news and misinformation circulating around the internet? If you feel that teaching young people to evaluate information is an uphill battle, a 2020 Dreams fake news workshop could be the answer.
Protecting young people from fake news and misinformation
As you will know, young people are increasingly moving away from mainstream sources of news and information, and embracing the less regulated world of social media and internet blogs to educate and inform themselves.
While this has opened the way for exposure to a diversity of viewpoints, it can be tough for young people to tell the difference between fact and fiction.
Exposure to fake news can lead to mental health issues, the conflict between peers and even criminal activity.
No one is completely immune to falling for fake news and misinformation, but children and teens can be particularly vulnerable. As children and teens lack the life experience of adults, they are usually more easily swayed by one-sided viewpoints.
Even those teens and young adults who can easily spot fake websites and ‘clickbait’ memes will often believe more subtle forms of misinformation, while the advance of technology has made it possible to create highly convincing ‘deep fake’ videos that can further warp reality.
A 2020 Dreams fake news workshop is an effective way to tackle this issue, engaging with young people on a deep level and teaching them the skills to discern truth from fiction for themselves.
Not only will this improve their relationships and mental health, but it will also leave them with powerful research skills that can be transferred to their academic studies.
2020 Dreams Fake News & Misinformation Workshops
A 2020 Dreams fake news workshop is different from standard lecture-based delivery of information. Our skilled and experienced facilitators can connect with students at a deeper level, fully involving them in the education process.
Two of the proven methods we use for engaging young people are hosting student-led forums and running scenario-based role plays. For example, students might discuss their experiences of accessing fake news and share fact-verifying methods that have worked for them. Or they might be asked to take up polarised opinions and attempt to twist facts and stats to support their position.
Alongside these fun and stimulating activities, 2020 Dreams facilitators will be sharing valuable information, such as how to recognise trusted sources and understanding the influence of our own biases on how we interpret what we read or watch.
Young people will be shown how fake news can undermine democratic societies, through affecting voter attitude, and how it can stoke the fires of intolerance and discrimination.
We can deliver a fake news workshop wherever you are based in the UK, custom-tailoring each one to meet the age group and needs of the school or institution we are visiting. Is there a specific type of fake news (e.g. anti-Islamic, homophobic, gender-based, etc.) that you would like to focus on? Let us know and we will design our workshop accordingly.
Looking to develop your own fake news workshop?
We also provide high-quality teacher and PTA training, one-to-one sessions and bespoke consultancy packages. This route is ideal for those schools, institutions and community groups that want to design their own fake news workshop content. Even parents themselves can benefit from one-to-one training, so they can help educate their own children (and themselves) on how to tell fact from fiction.
To find out more or to make a booking, please contact our friendly team, either by sending an email to hello@2020dreams.org.uk or calling us directly on 0800 471 4983.
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