Libraries in the Digital Age: The School Library Needs to Stand Up to “Fake News”

by Shannon C.

Image by Marcus Winkler via Unsplash

By now, nearly every adult has heard of the increasingly problematic “fake news” that litters social media, blogs, podcasts and the like. Our school age children, however, are potentially not as aware of this concept, and these little learners are sponges that soak up an immense amount of information daily. Children of all ages are becoming regular and targeted consumers of social media and are being exposed to a variety of news, advertising and informational content. (Raffoul) This, paired with students leaning on digital resources for research, the school library can and should step up to meet this challenge and aid students in learning how to determine fact from fiction. 

One of the ways a library can do this is by implementing software that aids in identifying “fake news” articles. Newsguard, for example, is a browser extension utilized by over 200 libraries that is designed to “literally red­-flag problematic articles and blog posts” by “usi[ng] a set of nine journalistic standards to examine the credibility and transparency of thousands of websites.” The aim is not to censor information, but allow users to evaluate the information and identify reliable sources. (Cilella) There are other website based options for fact-checking like snopes.com and factcheck.org that librarians can help students navigate if they’re unsure if there source is legitimate. 

It would also be beneficial to work with the teachers and administration to help develop curriculum that focus on media literacy that includes how to identify fake news. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA),
the ALA,YALSA, and National Public Radio (NPR), have developed guides to help consumers identify misinformation they find online. (Spratt) 

For a quick lesson in how to spot fake news, watch this video from factcheck.org:

How to Spot Fake News - FactCheck.org

                                                Cilella, Jessica. “Check Your Facts: Libraries Use Tech Tools to Fight Fake News.” American Libraries, vol. 50, no.11/12, Nov. 2019, pp. 36–37.    EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=139533152&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

                                                Raffoul, Amanda, et al. “Social Media Platforms Generate Billions of Dollars in Revenue from U.S. Youth: Findings from a Simulated Revenue Model.” PLoS ONE, vol. 18, no. 12, Dec. 2023, pp. 1–7. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ezproxy.palomar.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0295337.

                                                Spratt, Hannah E., and Denise E. Agosto. “Fighting Fake News: Because We All Deserve the Truth: Programming Ideas for Teaching Teens Media Literacy.” Young Adult Library Services, vol. 15, no. 4, Summer 2017, pp. 17–21. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=124230725&site=ehost-live&scope=site.