Media influence: How can I evaluate the truth online?
Downloads can take a few minutes, especially for larger files or slower connections.
Threads
Why this why now
By Year 7, most pupils will be using online content as an information source. This unit equips them with essential critical thinking skills to navigate digital information safely and responsibly. Positioned early in secondary school, it provides foundational media literacy that underpins all subsequent online safety and health education, enabling pupils to make informed decisions about the content they consume and share.
Prior knowledge requirements
- Pupils should understand from Key Stage 2 that not everything online is true and that they should ask a trusted adult if they're unsure about online content or information.
- Pupils should be familiar with using the internet for research and communication, and understand that people share information and opinions online through social media and websites.
- Pupils should recognise from previous units that people can present themselves differently online than in person, and that online interactions follow the same expectations as offline.
Threads
Why this why now
By Year 7, most pupils will be using online content as an information source. This unit equips them with essential critical thinking skills to navigate digital information safely and responsibly. Positioned early in secondary school, it provides foundational media literacy that underpins all subsequent online safety and health education, enabling pupils to make informed decisions about the content they consume and share.
Prior knowledge requirements
- Pupils should understand from Key Stage 2 that not everything online is true and that they should ask a trusted adult if they're unsure about online content or information.
- Pupils should be familiar with using the internet for research and communication, and understand that people share information and opinions online through social media and websites.
- Pupils should recognise from previous units that people can present themselves differently online than in person, and that online interactions follow the same expectations as offline.
Media influence: How can I evaluate the truth online?
This unit develops critical evaluation skills for assessing online content. Pupils learn to identify misinformation, understand how fake news spreads, explore influencer culture and motivations, and recognise the real-world consequences of believing and sharing false information.
4 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Media influence: How can I evaluate the truth online? unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our secondary rshe (pshe) curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for secondary rshe (pshe) programmes.