Children today are growing up in a world where access to information is easier than ever—but so is exposure to misinformation. As digital natives, many kids and teens spend hours each day scrolling through short-form videos, engaging with social media posts, and searching for answers to their questions online. The challenge? Not everything they encounter is true. In fact, much of it may be incomplete, biased, or entirely false.
As misinformation spreads quickly across digital platforms, a growing number of families are searching for ways to help children distinguish between what’s real and what’s misleading. This concern points to a critical need for increased digital literacy—especially as misinformation can lead to fear, confusion, poor decision-making, and emotional distress.
At Harvest Counseling and Wellness, we believe in equipping families with practical strategies and emotional support to help children grow into thoughtful, informed individuals. Here’s what parents, educators, and caregivers need to know.
Where Kids Encounter Misinformation
Children don’t need to seek out misinformation—it finds them. The most popular platforms among youth are designed to keep users engaged through personalized, attention-grabbing content. The problem is that these algorithms often favor content that is dramatic, shocking, or emotionally charged, rather than content that is factual or balanced.
Common Platforms and Problematic Content:
TikTok: Trending videos with unverified “life hacks,” false health advice (e.g., unsafe supplements or remedies), and conspiracy theories.
YouTube: Sensationalized headlines, AI-generated videos made to look real, or content that misrepresents scientific facts.
Instagram and Snapchat: Quick, digestible stories and memes that spread false narratives with no context.
Online Games and Chat Rooms: Forums and community threads where kids may pick up distorted views or misinformation shared by peers.
Even seemingly harmless content can include misleading messages that children take at face value. A popular influencer might casually reference a “fact” that isn’t true. A video may present fiction as entertainment but without clarification that it’s fictional. And unfortunately, repeated exposure can make misinformation seem familiar—and therefore more believable.
Why Digital Literacy Is Crucial for Kids and Teens
Digital literacy means more than simply knowing how to use a phone, tablet, or computer. It refers to a set of thinking skills that help people evaluate the content they consume. For children and teens, developing these skills is crucial to their emotional, social, and intellectual well-being.
Without Digital Literacy, Children May:
Believe false or biased content, impacting their values and worldview.
Develop anxiety about world events due to exaggerated or false claims.
Struggle to form opinions based on evidence rather than popularity or fear.
Lose trust in real sources of authority (e.g., teachers, parents, doctors).
Spread misinformation unknowingly, impacting others.
This kind of confusion can leave kids feeling overwhelmed. As they try to make sense of the world around them, digital literacy serves as a stabilizing skill set—giving them the tools to ask good questions, seek clarity, and filter what they see.
Red Flags: How to Spot Misinformation Online
Helping children learn to spot misleading content can empower them to navigate digital spaces with confidence. Some key red flags include:
1. Clickbait or Sensational Headlines
Titles that are overly dramatic or sound too outrageous often aim to attract clicks rather than inform.
2. Missing or Dubious Sources
If a post or video doesn't link to credible sources or includes vague phrases like “experts say” without naming them, be cautious.
3. Out-of-Context Media
Clips or images can be edited in misleading ways to distort meaning or fabricate a narrative.
4. Viral Challenges with No Scientific Basis
Trends that promise quick fixes, drastic results, or encourage risky behavior should be critically examined.
5. One-Sided Stories
Content that lacks balance or vilifies certain groups without nuance often reflects bias rather than fact.
Teaching Kids to Think Critically About Online Content
The goal isn't to make kids fearful or cynical about everything they see, but to teach them to think. Parents and educators can help by encouraging a mindset of curiosity, not blind acceptance.
Simple, Practical Questions Kids Can Learn to Ask:
Who created this and why? (What is their background or motive?)
Where did the information come from? (Is there a reliable source?)
Is it trying to make me feel scared or angry? (Misinformation often uses emotion to bypass logic.)
Can I check this somewhere else? (Can I verify this from a trusted source like a library site or news outlet?)
These questions work best when practiced regularly. Use real-life examples from your child’s feed or watch a video together and model your thinking aloud. The more you engage, the more natural it becomes for them to do the same.
The Role of Parents, Therapists, and Teachers
1. Modeling Media Awareness
Children learn by watching. Show them how you evaluate sources, take breaks from digital content, and ask critical questions.
2. Creating Safe Conversations
Be available to talk without judgment. If your child shares a wild claim they saw online, resist the urge to scold. Instead, ask questions: “What did you think when you saw that?” “Does it seem accurate to you?” This opens a space for deeper dialogue.
3. Supporting Emotional Health
Children who regularly encounter frightening or confusing content may show signs of distress. This can look like irritability, withdrawal, difficulty sleeping, or fixation on certain fears.
If misinformation is affecting your child’s emotional or mental health, counseling can help. At Harvest Counseling and Wellness, we support children and families in building resilience, developing healthy coping skills, and creating routines that promote safety and trust in a digital world.
Resources for Parents and Families
Here are trusted tools and platforms to support digital literacy:
Common Sense Media – Offers age-appropriate reviews, digital citizenship lessons, and conversation starters.
Snopes – A fact-checking website with searchable articles to verify online claims.
Media Literacy Now – Advocacy and resources for digital literacy in schools.
Bark / Qustodio – Apps that help parents monitor screen time, content, and online safety.
Consider incorporating these into your routine. Even reviewing a misleading meme together can be an opportunity for learning.
When to Seek Professional Help
If your child is:
Consistently anxious about what they see online
Struggling to sleep or concentrate due to distressing content
Becoming argumentative, paranoid, or fearful about real-world issues they don’t fully understand
…counseling may be beneficial. Therapists can provide a safe space for kids to explore their thoughts and feelings about the digital world while equipping families with strategies to create balance.
At Harvest Counseling and Wellness, our team includes child and teen therapists who work with families to build emotional resilience, improve communication, and navigate the unique challenges of growing up in a digital-first culture.
Final Thoughts
We cannot eliminate misinformation, but we can give our children the tools to face it. Teaching them to think critically, evaluate sources, and talk openly about what they encounter online prepares them not just for today’s internet—but for a lifetime of informed decision-making.
If your child is feeling overwhelmed, confused, or unsure how to process the flood of content they’re exposed to, we’re here to help.
Bring your burdens, bring your hurts. We’ll walk with you.
ARE YOU SEEKING SUPPORT FOR YOUR CHILD/TEEN AS THEY NAVIGATE THE ONLINE WORLD?
Harvest Counseling & Wellness is a Mental Health Counseling & Wellness Practice in Argyle, Texas. Our team includes several licensed therapists who specialize in child, teen and adolescent therapy. We provide support and counseling for children, preteens, teens, and families struggling with issues related to eating disorders, disordered eating, anxiety, depression, self-harm, school related issues, divorce and separation issues, and more. Our office is located near Denton, Highland Village, Flower Mound, Lantana, Roanoke, and Justin. If you are looking for a child, teen and adolescent therapist in Denton or surrounding areas, contact us today for a complimentary phone consultation, 940-294-7061.
