By Amy Meuers, NYLC CEO

As a youth-serving organization, we witness every day just how much information young people encounter and how challenging it can be to separate fact from fiction in today’s digital world. Social media platforms, news feeds, and even trusted figures can all be sources of both valuable knowledge and dangerous misinformation. Our mission is to empower youth not just to navigate this landscape, but to lead the way in building a more informed, resilient, and responsible community.

Young people are passionate about issues that shape their lives like health, climate, social justice, and more. Yet, as research and our own experience show, they are also particularly vulnerable to the pitfalls of fake news, viral rumors, and biased content. With brains still developing in areas tied to judgment and perspective, youth can be especially influenced by emotionally charged or widely shared stories, regardless of their accuracy. That’s why developing critical thinking and media literacy is not just a skill, but a necessity for safe, empowered participation in society.

We believe that every young person deserves the skills to question, verify, and make sense of the information they encounter. As adults, our role is to equip them with the tools to discern what is credible and what is not. The foundation is simple yet profound: encourage them not to take information at face value. We must teach young people to ask thoughtful questions, think critically, identify potential problems, explore solutions, and make informed decisions that drive positive change.

In today’s world, whether scrolling through social media, sitting in a classroom, or consuming news, distinguishing fact from misinformation is an essential skill. Supporting youth in developing critical thinking is not about fostering cynicism or distrust; it’s about helping them become thoughtful, discerning citizens who are prepared to lead and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Here are six ways you can help young people spot misinformation, ask better questions, and find the truth in a noisy world.

1. Help youth ask: Who is behind this information?

Every piece of information has a source. Before sharing a post or repeating a claim, take a moment to ask where it came from. Is it a reliable news outlet? A personal blog? A social media influencer? An official organization?

Look for:

• A clear author or publisher
• Whether the source is known for accuracy or bias
• The presence (or absence) of citations and evidence

A helpful rule: if you can’t figure out where something originated, you probably shouldn’t trust it.

2. Teach youth to be skeptical of viral content

Just because something is getting a lot of likes or shares does not make it true. In fact, misinformation often spreads faster than the truth because it is designed to trigger strong emotions like anger, fear, or outrage.

Before hitting “share,” pause and ask:

• Does this seem too shocking or too good to be true?
• Is there more to the story than this post is telling me?
• Are other credible sources reporting the same thing?

Take a breath and double-check before adding to the noise.

3. Support youth in learning how to fact-check like a pro

There are amazing tools that can be used to verify information quickly. Some of the best include:

• Snopes.com: Great for checking rumors and viral posts
• PolitiFact.com: Focuses on political statements and fact-checks claims
• MediaBiasFactCheck.com: Helps you evaluate news sources based on reliability and bias

You can also simply search the topic using trusted news organizations and see if their reporting matches what you saw.

4. Encourage youth to consider: Who benefits from this message?

When someone shares information, especially someone in a position of power, ask who benefits from you believing it. Are they trying to win your vote, gain your trust, or sell you something? Are they avoiding responsibility or trying to shift blame?

Powerful people can sometimes use misinformation to influence public opinion or protect their own interests. This happens not only on the national or global level, but also in local communities, schools, and organizations. Your critical thinking should apply to all levels of influence.

5. Reinforce that curiosity is a strength

If something feels off or confusing, that is your brain asking for more information. Follow that instinct. Ask questions. Read different viewpoints. Talk to people you trust. The goal is not to prove others wrong, but to understand the full picture.

Being curious is not a weakness—it is one of your greatest strengths.

6. Guide youth to use their voices with intention and responsibility

Young people have powerful platforms and influential voices, whether through school projects, social media, or peer conversations. The information they share plays a critical role in shaping how their peers and communities understand the world. That’s why it’s essential to guide youth toward sharing facts, not rumors. When they practice and model truth-telling and critical thinking, they not only protect themselves from misinformation but also set a standard for others to follow.

The bottom line, we live in a time when anyone can publish anything at any time. That is both exciting and dangerous. It means youth have more access to information than ever before, but also more responsibility to sort through it. So help them question what they read, the images they see, the clips they watch. Ask them where it came from. Check the facts. And think twice before sharing.

The truth is out there but it takes intention, effort, and awareness to find it. And youth have everything it takes to lead the way.