Why the rise of online disinformation is an opportunity to change how we teach our children

A story in the Australian edition of The Guardian asks whether disinformation should be studied in schools, in the same way as reading, writing or maths, concluding that it is critical for the country’s students to develop the skills to discern fact from fiction if they are to stay safe and well-informed.

What has become known as media literacy is undoubtedly much needed in today’s world. It is estimated that more than 70 countries have already have already been subjected to organized disinformation campaigns that in some cases have had disastrous consequences. In the United States, for example, anti-vaxxer disinformation during the pandemic was responsible for higher death rates in Republican-majority states than in those run by Democrats, while there have been countless cases of electoral interference around the world, creating entire industries devoted to disinformation.

In addition, the popularization of AI has made it easier than ever to spread disinformation: we are simply not mentally prepared to deal with the post-truth world. Virtually anyone can be fooled. At the same time, powerful interests are at work to prevent research or to educate the public about the dangers of disinformation: populist politicians work hard to divide the electorate, spreading…