Learn the skills of spotting fake news: check who made a post and why, find hidden adverts, test sources and use the STOP check before sharing.
Chapter 2: Spot the advert
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Fake News Detectives is an interactive game that teaches children aged 9–11 the skills of spotting fake news: thinking about who made a post, advert or article and why, checking sources, and noticing misleading stories. A cartoon detective called Dot talks players through every step.
Players sort posts by purpose (inform, persuade, sell, entertain or trick) and hunt for adverts hidden in a social media feed. They inspect a copycat news website for clues and practise lateral reading by opening other sources to compare what they say. They also zoom out of a cropped photo and look for signs that a picture was made by AI.
It all builds towards the STOP check (Stop, Think, Open other sources, Pause), a habit to use before sharing anything online. The game ends with a ten-question Detective Challenge.
Fake news is false or misleading information made to look like real news. Some of it is completely made up. Some twists the truth with a cropped photo, an exaggerated headline or words meant to shock or scare you, so that people share it without checking.
Children can check a story by asking who made it and why, looking at the web address, the writer and the date, and seeing whether trusted sources report the same thing. Shouting capitals, big feelings and 'share now' messages are signals to slow down.
The STOP check is a four-step habit taught in this game. Stop and notice your feelings, Think about who made it and why, Open other sources to see if they agree, and Pause so you only share what you are sure is true.
Fake News Detectives is designed for children aged 9 to 11 in upper Key Stage 2, and it also suits younger secondary pupils. Spotting misinformation already features in online safety teaching, and it is due to become part of the primary curriculum in England.
The game has five chapters and a ten-question Detective Challenge, and it takes about 45 minutes to play in full. Each chapter has a spoken introduction, hands-on activities such as sorting posts and zooming out of photos, quick questions and a badge to earn.
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