How Does Explaining Fake News and Disinformation Work?

Explaining fake news and disinformation is like helping someone tell the difference between a real cookie and a pretend one that looks just like it.

Fake news is when someone makes up a story or changes facts to trick people into believing something that’s not true. Disinformation is when they do this on purpose, maybe to make you upset, confused, or even angry.

Imagine your friend tells you the school is closing tomorrow because they saw a message online. But it's just someone pretending to be the principal and writing a silly note. That’s fake news!

Disinformation is like that silly note, it was made on purpose to mess with you. Sometimes people share these fake messages so quickly, like passing notes in class, and before you know it, everyone thinks the school is closing.

Sometimes, the messages are real at first, but then they get changed or stretched until they're not true anymore. That’s like a cookie that starts out delicious, but then someone adds extra chocolate and says it's "the best ever", even though it's just regular chocolate!

By looking closely, asking questions, and checking where the message came from, you can spot fake news and disinformation, just like you’d spot a pretend cookie in your lunch box.