What does "fake news" mean to you? An examination of teen understandings of misinformation and disinformation


Michael Adorjan, University of Calgary

Surveys held around the world indicate, overall, negative mental health affects for youth during the initial lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as during the subsequent waves of lockdowns well into 2021. With increases in screen time especially during periods of lockdown, concerns were raised regarding the various ‘cyber-risks’ youth were exposed to, especially ‘fake news’ – a term initially coined by Donald Trump while President of the U.S., but which came to be increasingly examined as ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ online. This reseach examines teen experiences with parents, schools and ‘cyber-risk’ during the initial COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, following their experiences to the present with a focus on their mental health and well being. Here, drawing from qualitative interviews with 20 teens in an urban Western region, we primarily focus on youth understandings of what ‘fake news’ means to them, their exposure to misinformation and disinformation online, the messages they’ve received from parents and educators, and their strategies in response. Findings point to general awareness of ‘fake news’ though also the role of wider parenting culture and school based responses for education and prevention.

Non-presenting author: Rosemary Ricciardelli, Memorial University

This paper will be presented at the following session: