The big ideaCheck who made it, other sources, the date and the photo before sharing.
How it works
Some pages want clicks, because they earn money when people click. They use loud headlines and a rush to share, but spreading fast does not make a story true.
Loud does not mean false. It just means you check before you share.
Run five checks: the headline, who made it, other sources, the date and the photo.
When you are not sure, wait, and do not share it yet. Then ask a grown-up or a teacher. No check is perfect, so asking helps.
The five checks.Made-up, or passes?
Example 1: The giant hamster
The headline says, "Share before it is deleted!" and there is no name, no school and no newspaper behind it.
Three news places the school trusted did not mention it, the page was three years old, and the hamster's edges looked cut out.
It failed all five checks.
Example 2: Grandad's pool story
Grandad shared a story that said the pool was closed on Friday.
Then he read the date, and the story was from last year.
He checked the pool's own notice, found it was open, and sent his friends a note to say sorry.
Grandad puts it right.
Example 3: Miss Lund's newsletter
The newsletter names the school, has this week's date and matches the notice board.
It passes the checks.
Not every story is a trick.
Words to know
headline
The big words at the top of a story.
source
Who or where a story came from.
share
To pass a story on to other people.
Watch out
A shared story is not a true story: many people can pass on a made-up one.
A photo can be changed or come from another time.
Sharing to warn friends still passes the story on.
You are never in trouble for asking, or for nearly sharing.
Try it
A headline says, "Share before it is deleted!" What is it made to do?
A story says today, but its date is three years ago. What do you do?
Does a page with no name or school behind it tell you the story is true?
Who can help check a story?
Answers: 1. Rush you to share · 2. Wait: it is old news · 3. No, check more · 4. A grown-up or a teacher
Try at homePick one story with a grown-up and check it together: who made it, other sources, the date and the photo.
For grown-upsPick one story together and run the five checks: who made it, other sources, the date and the photo. Say aloud what you would do before you share.
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