Critical literacy
Play FakeOut
Your social media feed has been infected by false information. Your job is to learn the skills of verification, so you can sort fact from fiction — in the game, and in real life.
The following definitions will help in assessing viewpoint.
Bias: Prejudice or preconceived notion that causes a person to favor one person or side of the debate over another. In other words, a bending of facts, cherry-picking of facts, or a complete fabrication of information in order to fit a preconceived narrative.
Confirmation bias: When conducting research, this is your natural inclination to give more weight to information and arguments that agree with your own original opinions and/or beliefs.
Moderate: Holding views that are neither excessive nor extreme.
Neutral: Not aligned with any side in a controversy, or with a particular political or ideological group.
Objective: Without bias. An objective position aims to be based on fact, rather than on personal feelings or prejudices.
Subjective: With bias or preconceived views. A subjective opinion is more affected by personal viewpoint or experiences than by fact.
Skill: Check a claim
Check, please! Starter course
Recommended fact-checking sites
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Check the source of an image
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Fact checking specialty and international sites
Respected specialty sites cover niche areas such as climate or celebrities. Here are a few examples:
There are many fact-checking sites in different countries. Here is a small sample:
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FactsCan (Canada)
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TrudeauMetre (Canada)
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El Polígrafo (Mexico)
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The Hound (Mexico)
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BBC Reality Check (UK)
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Channel 4 Fact Check (UK)
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Full Fact (UK)
Subject guide created by
Guide created by Tania Sheko. Contact me tania.sheko@mhs.vic.edu.au
What is lateral reading and how will it help me evaluate a website?
