What is false information and what can we do about it?
I can explain different types of false information and why it is problematic.
What is false information and what can we do about it?
I can explain different types of false information and why it is problematic.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- There are different types of false information including misinformation, disinformation and malinformation.
- False information is damaging in a democracy as citizens need to be able to trust the news.
- Regulations can support in limiting the ammount of false news, but social media is more difficult to regulate.
- Citizens should critically evaluate information to consider its accuracy.
Keywords
Democracy - a system of Government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for political representatives.
Misinformation - false or misleading information shared by mistake, without intent to deceive
Disinformation - false information shared deliberately to mislead or harm
Malinformation - true information used out of context to mislead or harm
Regulation - rules or laws to control or guide behaviour for society’s benefit
Common misconception
Social media news posts are always accurate.
There is misinformation within all media, but even more so with social media due to a lack of regulation.
To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What is false information and what can we do about it?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What is false information and what can we do about it?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 citizenship lessons from the How does the media hold those in power to account? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
