After the riots, children are to be taught how to recognize fake news and “lazy” conspiracy theories on the Internet | Politics News

The proposed curriculum changes will teach children how to identify extremist content and fake news on the internet, the education minister said.

Bridget Phillipson said she was overhauling the curriculum in both primary and secondary schools to embed critical thinking in several subjects and arm children against “lame conspiracy theories.”

This means that school children can analyze articles in English classes to learn how to distinguish fabricated clickbait articles from truthful reports.

Computer science classes could teach them how to identify fake news websites, and math classes could teach them how to analyze statistics in context.

Mrs Phillipson told The Telegraph: “It is more important than ever that we give young people the knowledge and skills to counter what they see online.

“That’s why, as part of our curriculum review, we will be developing plans to embed critical skills into lessons and arm our children against the disinformation, fake news and disgusting conspiracy theories circulating on social media.

“Our renewed curriculum will always set high and rising standards in the core subjects – that is non-negotiable.”

She said the curriculum will also aim to give students broader access to cultural issues and “provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their careers and in life.”

There were riots across Britain after false information was spread on the Internet that a Muslim asylum seeker was the suspect in the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport.

The National Council of Police Chiefs announced on Saturday that a total of 779 people had been arrested in connection with the unrest, with 349 of them facing charges.

On Friday, Two men were sentenced to prison for using social media to promote the unrest.

Jordan Parlour was sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to publishing written material intended to incite racial hatred.

Tyler Kay was sentenced to 38 months in prison after calling on people on social media to set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers.

The two are believed to be the first to be sent to prison for social media posts related to the nationwide unrest.

Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Tory councillor, is to appear in court on Monday after accused of inciting racial hatred because of a post she made on X.

The moderation and regulation of social media has also been put under scrutiny following the recent unrest.

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New regulation of social media platforms – the Online Security Act – became law in the UK last year, but has not yet fully come into force.

The aim of the law is to impose rules on companies to protect inappropriate and potentially dangerous content from vulnerable eyes.

Sir Keir Starmer hinted on Friday that he would consider further tightening social media regulation after London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the law was “not fit for purpose”.