Digital Resilience: Fake news

1. The Giant Cat Video Gabriele saw a video online of a cat as big as a car. It looked real, but something felt off. He paused and asked himself: “Could this really happen?” Then he saw “Made with AI” in the corner. He realised it was fake and moved on. What should you do when something seems too strange to be true online?

• Share it right away with friends
• Ask questions and check if it’s real
• Believe it because it has many views
• Save it to show everyone

2. The Miracle Plant Post Emma saw a post claiming that a plant could “cure any disease” instantly. She wanted to believe it but noticed the post had no sources or doctor’s advice. She showed her science teacher, who explained that this was likely a scam. How can you tell if a post like this might not be trustworthy?

• It makes big promises without proof
• It was shared by someone you know
• The picture of the plant looks real
• It uses green colours and emojis

3. The Free Phone Giveaway Matteo got a message saying: “You’ve won a new phone! Just click here!” It had lots of emojis and flashing signs. Matteo remembered that real prizes don’t ask for clicks first. He deleted the message. What’s a sign that a message like this might be a scam?

• It asks for personal info to claim a prize
• It says “Congratulations!” at the top
• The prize looks cool
• It uses lots of colours and emojis

4. The News with No Source Sofia saw a scary post about schools closing forever. It didn’t say who wrote it, and no big news websites were reporting it. She waited, checked the school website, and saw everything was normal. Why should we be careful with news that doesn’t say who wrote it?

• It might be boring
• It’s probably a secret
• It might be made up or misleading
• It comes from teachers

5. The Missing Puppy Trick Riccardo saw a message saying a puppy was lost and needed help. But when he clicked the photo, it led to a strange website. His brother said the image had been used in fake posts before. What should you do before clicking on a post asking for help?

• Check if it’s from a trusted source
• Click and share just in case
• Ignore it every time
• Comment “So sad!” to be polite

6. The “Did You Know?” Fact Chiara read: “Did you know the moon is made of cheese?” It looked like a fun fact but had no links or real sources. She laughed and looked it up, finding out it was just a joke. What’s a smart step when you see a strange “fact” online?

• Google it or check another source
• Believe it because it’s funny
• Share it with your whole class
• Screenshot it for your story

7. The Fake Profile Picture Alice got a follow request from someone who looked like a celebrity. But when she checked their account, they had only one photo and no posts. She knew it was likely fake and didn’t accept it. How can you tell if a profile might be fake?

• It looks very cool
• It has almost no posts or details
• It follows your friends
• The person uses emojis in their name

What’s a smart step to take when you see a strange fact or a seemingly fake piece of information online?