Early childhood education

Awareness and impacts of fake news

Abstract

This article discusses the impact of fake news on education, highlighting how the dissemination of false information affects students' critical thinking, especially in the school environment. The relevance and justification for this study are directly linked to the increasing presence of fake news in contemporary society, particularly in the educational context. The spread of false information, driven by the internet and social media, has significant impacts, especially among children and young people, who are more susceptible to sharing unverified news. In this sense, the general objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between the dissemination of fake news and the educational process, investigating how the lack of critical awareness about false information in schools impacts students' development and their capacity for discernment and logical reasoning, as well as the role of law in regulation. To this end, the deductive method was adopted, associated with a bibliographic review and qualitative data analysis. In conclusion, it was pointed out that the dissemination of fake news represents a growing challenge for education, especially in the school context, as the lack of critical awareness of the fake news phenomenon can compromise students' education, impairing their analytical abilities and decision-making. Therefore, it is essential that schools adopt educational strategies, such as the implementation of media literacy and the promotion of discussions on information discernment, to strengthen students' critical thinking and prepare them to confront disinformation.