Misinformation

Introduction / Tips for parents

The Internet offers tremendous resources and learning opportunities. Ten years ago, who would have imagined being able to e-mail an expert at the Canadian Space Agency as part of a high school science project?

Unfortunately, the Internet also contains a great deal of information that is neither valuable nor reliable. Since anyone can post comments or information on the Internet, users need to develop critical thinking skills to judge the accuracy of online information.

These skills are particularly important for young people, who, from an early age, are turning to the Internet for help with their school work. Research from the Media Awareness Network (MNet) in 2005 shows that 57 per cent of Grades 4 to 5 students do homework online on an average school day.

Traditionally, printed resources have had gatekeepers - editors, proofreaders and fact checkers - to weed out mistakes, lies and inaccurate information. However, the Internet, in many cases, has no safety guards.

Misinformation can appear on the Internet in many guises, including:

• Hate sites that spread malicious misinformation. These kinds of sites can overtly promote extreme viewpoints or use a subtle, deceptive approach.
  
  
• Commercial sites that blend fun and information with the promotion of products. These sites are essentially online 'infomercials' with advertisers creating their own content to attract their target market.
  
  
• Sites that promote and sell bogus or false products. There are many examples of dangerous products available through such sites, for example, HIV testing kits and miracle cures for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
  
  
• Personal opinion that is presented as fact. Most of these sites are home pages of individuals who publish what they like and claim that it is true.
  
  
• Parody or spoof sites. These sites purposely mislead users. Some are just for fun, others have a political point to make, and some are created to show kids how easy it is to fool others online.
  
  
• E-mail hoaxes. E-mail can spread misinformation through false virus warnings, bogus money-making schemes, urban legends and unsubstantiated health alerts.

Tips for parents

According to 2005 MNet research, two thirds (68%) of students in Grades 4 to 11 are interested in learning how to tell if online information is true. The interest is highest among children in Grades 4 to 6 (75%). Parents can play an important role in helping kids learn these skills at an early age.

Teach kids how the Internet works, and how Web sites can be established with no questions asked. Train them to use a wide variety of information resources, and to check and question what they see online.

The following tips will help your kids get the most out of Internet information:

• Start when your children are young. Primary grade students are now using the Internet to look up information, so it's important to teach them early on how to distinguish fact from opinion and how to recognize bias, propaganda and stereotyping.
  
  
• Ask your kids about information that they find online. For example:
  
  
  • What's the purpose of the site? To inform? To entertain? To persuade? To sell?
    
    
  • Who are the authors or creators of this Web page? Are they credible?
    
    
  • Does the site contain contact information for the author or an "About Us" section?
    
    
  • What sites does this site link to?
    
    
  • Who links to this site? (Enter the name in a search engine and see what other sites appear.)
    
    
  • When was this Web page created? When was it updated?
    
    
  • Why did you choose the Internet to find this information? Is there a better place to look?
  
  
• Make sure your kids check the online information they collect with other sources. Refer to other Web sites or media such as newspapers, magazines and books to verify the information.
  
  
• Encourage your kids to use a wide variety of information resources, not just the Internet. Take them to the library and buy a good encyclopedia on CD-ROM. This will give them access to alternative sources of information.
  
  
• Teach your kids techniques to effectively search out information online. This will greatly improve their ability to obtain quality information. One suggestion is to encourage them to use a variety of search engines rather than settling for just one site.
  
  
• Explore commercial Web sites with your kids. Show them how marketers create virtual playgrounds. These sites often integrate advertising with graphics, games and activities to reinforce brand-name loyalty.
  
  
• Discuss hatred and racism with your kids. Software filters can help block some of this type of material. Your kids, however, should learn about racism and world events so they can recognize hateful content.
  
  
• Encourage your kids to talk to you before making any online purchases. Canada's Office of Consumer Affairs has a guide for finding reputable online merchants and avoiding online scams.