Effective strategies to prevent and correct misinformation 2/15

1. Encourage critical thinking and media literacy

Helping people understand how misinformation works is more effective in the long run than simply telling them what to believe. When individuals learn to recognise common manipulation tactics—such as emotionally charged language, scapegoating, or false choices presented as “either/or” scenarios—they become more resilient to disinformation, even in the future.

Educators and communicators can support this by using practical and engaging methods. Real-world examples, myth-spotting activities, and headline analysis help people see how misinformation shows up in everyday content. Encouraging students or audiences to question sources, check facts, and think critically about the information they consume builds lasting skills.

Adding humour and references to pop culture—such as scenes from animated shows, popular memes, or internet trends—can also make these lessons more relatable and memorable. By making the learning process engaging, people are more likely to absorb and apply what they learn when navigating information online.