Fake News

1. What is Fake News? 📰

Fake news is information that's not true, made to look like real news. It can be made with special computer programs called AI (Artificial Intelligence). Think of AI as a super-smart robot that can create things. Sometimes, people use it to make fake stories or to change pictures.

• How to spot it:

  • Does it make you feel a big emotion? Fake news often tries to make you feel very excited, angry, or scared so you don't stop to think.

  • Are there mistakes? Look for silly spelling or grammar errors. Real news articles are usually checked very carefully.

  • Is it on a website you know? Fake news often comes from strange websites you've never heard of before.

  • Can you find the story somewhere else? Check with a trusted adult or a different website to see if the story is also there.

• Photos can be tricky too!

  • People can use computer programs to change photos, a bit like digital magic! This is called photoshopping. They might add things that weren't there or take things out.

  • AI can also create brand-new pictures that look real, but are actually just made up by the computer.

Top Tip: If you see something that looks weird or feels wrong, don't share it. Tell a grown-up instead.

2. What is Phishing? 🎣

Phishing is when someone tries to trick you into giving them your private information, like your name, address, or password. They do this by pretending to be someone you trust, like a friend or a game company. They are "fishing" for your information!

• How to spot it:

  • Is it asking for private information? No trusted company will ever ask for your password in an email or message.

  • Does it sound like an emergency? Phishing messages often say "you must do this now or something bad will happen!" This is to scare you into clicking a link without thinking.

  • Check the email address. A real email from your school or a game company will have a proper name after the @ symbol, like @schoolname.edu or @gamename.com. A fake one might have a jumble of letters or numbers.

Top Tip: If you get a strange message that asks for your information, don't click on anything. Show it to a grown-up right away.