Facebook won't save us from fake news. We need to teach people to resist misinformation | Opinion

First, the bad news: Too many Americans don't have basic media literacy skills. The good news is that it's not hard to teach people to identify fake news. In our research at the Reboot Foundation, we've found even quick educational sessions can be effective. Targeting the reception of fake news can succeed where efforts to target production have failed or, at best, shown mixed results.

Social media companies have likewise been working to constrain the impact of fake news. Facebook has its election"war room" and has partnered with fact-checking services to minimize the prevalence of fake news content on the platform. But these efforts have been controversial, and a key issue of debate in the lead-up to the 2020 election. Obvious concerns arise when private companies police public discourse.

Therefore, it's up to users to approach the 21-century media environment, driven by news on social media, with more attention, care and skill. Students and adults need to learn how to research information online, determine the reliability of sources, understand bias, identify fake news, withstand emotional appeals, evaluate evidence and engage viewpoints different than their own.

Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before the House Financial Services Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill October 23 in Washington, D.C.Some other countries are taking media literacy more seriously. In Brazil, media analysis courses have been required in schools since 2017. The French Culture Ministry has devoted substantial resources to media literacy, including journalist-taught workshops for middle and high school students.

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