Lessons for kids in spottign ‘fake news’ to combat ‘antivax’ stories
Children are to be given lessons in how to spot ‘fake news’ in a bid to combat the wave of ‘antivax’ stories flooding the internet
- Educations secretary Damian Hinds will announce move alongside Health Secretary Matt Hancock
- Comes after increase in children whose parents have not vaccinated them after reading incorrect scare stories online
- Mr Hinds to say trusted sources such as the NHS are more important than ever
Children are to receive lessons in how to spot ‘fake news’ about vaccinations on the internet.
Education Secretary Damian Hinds will announce the move today at a social media summit alongside Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
It comes after an increase in the number of children whose parents have not vaccinated them with the MMR jab after reading incorrect scare stories online.
Children are to receive lessons in how to spot ‘fake news’ about vaccinations on the internet
Mr Hinds will say: ‘Trusted sources are now more important than ever. For health information, clearly that means the NHS.
‘For news, young people will have to work out their own preferred sources, but the important thing is to be discerning.
‘We need the tech companies to make that easier – but we also need to ensure that young people are new-media-savvy.
‘That’s why we are introducing new content to schools that is a fusion of the Relationships, Citizenship and Computing curricula.’
From 2020, the Government is making health education compulsory, alongside relationships education for primary pupils and relationships and sex education for secondary school pupils.
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