Fight against fake news: Left calls for media education in Thuringia!

Fight against fake news: Left calls for media education in Thuringia!

The debate about disinformation and fake news is gaining momentum. This is particularly topical in the Thuringian state parliament, where the Die Linke parliamentary group has submitted a motion to combat targeted disinformation and digital hate speech. MPsKatharina König-Preusshighlights how dangerous targeted misinformation is for our democracy. In your opinion, we need to start early to train young people in how to handle information. Tixio reports that the application envisages measures such as compulsory media education in schools. Students should learn how to identify fake news and conspiracy myths.

A central point in König-Preuss' argument are the incidents experienced so far in Thuringia, such as fake draft notices in Gera and manipulated election results. These are not only annoying, but also question the integrity of democratic processes. In order to counteract this, the application calls for an amendment to the Transparency Act and the establishment of a research center that will deal more intensively with the topic. The responsibility of platform operators should also be strengthened in order to curb the spread of disinformation.

Schools as first points of contact

A big focus is on schools, where young people should learn the skills necessary to deal critically with information. The Federal Agency for Civic Education highlights the worrying spread of fake news and disinformation on social media. People are more susceptible to such content, especially in times of crisis. At the same time, it has been shown that low trust in political and media institutions increases susceptibility to fake news.

Scientists are finding that it is not necessarily more people who believe in disinformation, but rather that it has become more present. At the same time, it is often observed that fake news and conspiracy stories are used specifically to discredit news sources. In times of crisis, the number of such negative information skyrocketed.

Media competence as key

Media literacy is seen by many as the key to dealing with fake news. This includes not only critical reflection on media content, but also knowledge of how information should be evaluated. Deutschlandfunk describes that people in alarmist environments tend to be more dissatisfied with democracy. It is therefore important to take targeted measures to promote long-term trust in reputable media.

In order to meet the challenges of disinformation, it is advisable to compare different sources and check the background of information. The European Union has already taken measures to promote initiatives such as “EU vs. Disinfo” – to curb the spread of fake news. This shows that a combination of educational offerings and clear legal requirements is necessary to protect our democracies.