How to Identify Fake News and Misinformation?

Yangcheon-gu, First Local Government to Provide 'Visiting Media Literacy Education' for 1,745 5th Grade Elementary Students... Education on Identifying Fake News and Misinformation, Copyright, and Proper Content Creation and Use

Media Copyright Education Held at Yangdong Elementary School on the 13th

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) is the first local government in the country to promote ‘Visiting Media Literacy Education’ for elementary school students.

This project, conducted as part of the 2021 Yangcheon Innovation Education District initiative, was introduced to cultivate students' media information utilization skills and digital sensitivity necessary in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Media literacy refers to the ability to critically understand the information and content provided by media, responsibly express one’s own thoughts through media, and communicate effectively.

For children living in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, the ability to critically accept information from various media and express it correctly is considered the most important skill.

In particular, during this period when children are exposed to media in all areas of daily life from waking up to going to sleep, including online classes due to COVID-19, media literacy skills have become more important than ever.

Accordingly, the district has been conducting ‘Visiting Media Literacy Education’ for local students since April this year to cultivate proper information utilization skills and digital sensitivity in children exposed to various media, helping them grow into talents who will lead the digital media era.

The education targets are 5th-grade students in local elementary schools, and the district selected a total of 1,745 students from 69 classes in 11 schools based on school applications.

The curriculum includes identifying fake news and false information, the use of others’ copyrighted works and copyright issues, content searching, production, and critique activities. Professional instructors visit schools directly to provide customized, age-appropriate education by class.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “The ongoing impact of COVID-19 has increased the need for online media education. Since children are defenselessly exposed to various media and false information and cyberbullying spread through media are pointed out as causes of social problems, we will gradually expand media literacy education to help our children grow physically and mentally healthy.”