Fewer than 2% of children and young people in the UK have the critical literacy skills they need to tell if a news story is real or fake. Half of children are worried about not being able to spot fake news. These statistics come from a survey conducted by the National Literacy Trust, working with an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Literacy. As a result of their findings, The National Literacy Trust has published a five-point charter which aims to give young people the skills and knowledge they need to navigate, analyse and assess the validity of the news they find in print, online and on TV and radio.
TV presenter, broadcaster and journalist Mariella Frostrup has been a key supporter of the commission and says “In the last couple of years we’ve learnt to our cost that the proliferation of news outlets and access to social media forums doesn’t necessarily help us stay abreast of the facts. Confronted by today’s tsunami of information – true, slanted and totally fabricated – it can be hard for adults to form educated opinions and make the right choices. How much more confusing must it be for our children? The National Literacy Trust’s timely study is an important reminder of the need to equip young people with the confidence and imperative skills to chart their own cautious course through the acres of fake news and propaganda.”
Visit www.literacytrust.org.uk to find out more.