Teens Are Fact‑Checking Dad: How News‑Savvy Kids and New Ad Laws Are Raising the Bar for Media Literacy

Somewhere between my generation’s “Don’t believe everything you see on TV” and today’s “Dad, you really need to cite your sources,” a quiet revolution has taken place. Last week, I tried to tell my son that I walked to school uphill both ways. He reached for his phone, tapped a few buttons and smugly informed me that topographic maps of our neighborhood prove otherwise. Touché. Apparently our kids aren’t just doomscrolling; they’re getting pretty good at sniffing out nonsense.

That stereotype of teens mindlessly liking and sharing everything they see online doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. At Gate City Charter School for the Arts in New Hampshire, middle school students using the News Literacy Project’s Checkology program are learning to spot misinformation and disinformation. Seventh‑grader Gwen Darah says the lessons helped her find credible sources for class assignments and weed out the false stories. Another student notes that she now treats every website and video with a healthy skepticism—she checks who created it and whether it’s legitimate. Far from cynical, these kids say the skills make the internet less scary because they know how to check facts instead of being overwhelmed by the falsehoods swirling around. Their advice? If it sounds bizarre, fact‑check it; if it sounds real, fact‑check it.

These young detectives are also wary of content designed to tap their insecurities. One eighth‑grader explained that algorithms often push influencer‑driven posts and ads targeting girls, making false promises or promoting products that claim to fix perceived flaws. Armed with news‑literacy skills, she now recognizes when a polished video is really just another ad for “miracle” hair gummies or a friend’s latest MLM scheme. That awareness makes a world of difference in a digital landscape that sees teenagers as walking, talking piggy banks.

Consider how saturated our kids’ feeds really are. A recent report on new social‑media advertising laws in Louisiana and Texas found that platforms spend around $16.4 billion on food and drink advertising, most of it for junk food. Teens are inundated—on average, they see 17 food and drink ads per hour online. Nearly every adolescent has a smartphone, and about three‑quarters have their own social‑media profiles, spending roughly 1.5 hours a day scrolling. That’s a lot of time for snack companies and soda brands to whisper, “Buy me.” Marketers tailor these ads to different audiences: Black and Hispanic youths see far more food marketing than their White peers, and advertisers often use influencers to disguise promotions as friendly advice. No wonder some states now require parental consent before minors can use social‑media platforms or restrict targeted advertising altogether. The goal is to level the playing field for kids who are otherwise drowning in persuasive junk.

So what’s a parent to do? Here’s the good news: our kids can handle more nuance than we give them credit for. Instead of lecturing about “screen time,” talk with them about how they decide what’s true. Ask them to explain the difference between a news article and an advertisement disguised as a TikTok dance. Watch a trending video together and dissect why it might not be trustworthy. When they spot an influencer peddling a “limited‑edition” sneaker drop, use it as a chance to talk about budgeting and the value of money. Remind them that algorithms aren’t friends; they’re salespeople who learn what buttons to push. And yes, encourage them to fact‑check you as well—it’s humbling, but it keeps you both honest.

It’s also worth modeling the behavior you’d like to see. Before sharing that viral meme about free flights or reposting an outraged headline, do what those New Hampshire students do: check the source. Is the website reputable? Who benefits from this message? How are emotions being manipulated? As Gwen’s classmate said, even when using AI‑powered search results, she looks at the underlying sources to see if they’re factual. If kids can navigate AI summaries with caution, we can certainly pause before forwarding an unverified WhatsApp rumor.

Finally, remember that the goal isn’t to turn our children into jaded cynics. Healthy skepticism can coexist with curiosity and joy. Middle schoolers in New Hampshire still love sharing silly videos; they’re just better at separating the fun from the false. And those new advertising laws won’t stop every junk‑food ad or influencer pitch, but they signal that policymakers are paying attention to how online ecosystems affect young minds. Combined with our daily conversations at the dinner table, they can help ensure that our kids’ feeds are less like the Wild West and more like a well‑stocked library—full of information, entertainment and, yes, the occasional dad joke waiting to be fact‑checked.

Sources:

1. Carol McCarthy, “The kids are alright: New Hampshire middle schoolers share how they use their news literacy skills,” News Literacy Project, July 24 2025.

2. Dr. Liji Thomas and Lauren Hardaker, “Louisiana and Texas test new laws to shield teens from junk food ads on social media,” News-Medical, Jun 24 2025.