The Problem of Online Misinformation and the Role of Schools

Amid all the excellent free information that is available online, there are many damagingly false assertions and misleading arguments. Distinguishing reliable from unreliable information raises complex epistemological issues and is especially difficult in an online context. Thus the Internet poses novel and serious cognitive demands. Some prominent individuals and institutions are calling for schools to prepare young people to identify reliable information online. Indeed, schools will be unable to avoid addressing this issue as an aspect of “information literacy education.” However, it is unwise to expect them to solve the problems created by false and misleading information. Education is—at best—a part of the solution. A more effective approach is for governments and other major institutions to fund and promote reliable web portals.