Canadian teens take on misinformation through national fact-checking network

The non-profit digital media literacy organisation MediaSmarts has opened applications for the third year of its Teen Fact-Checking Network (TFCN), a bilingual programme that equips teenagers aged 13 to 19 with practical skills to investigate viral claims and create fact-checking content for their peers. The initiative comes at a time when misinformation continues to circulate widely across social media platforms used by young people. From misleading health advice and manipulated images to unsubstantiated environmental claims and questionable product endorsements, teenagers are increasingly encountering information that requires careful scrutiny rather than passive consumption.

For educators and media experts, the challenge is no longer simply about access to information. Instead, it is about helping young people assess whether information is trustworthy in the first place.

MediaSmarts has spent many years promoting digital and media literacy in Canada, developing educational resources that support critical thinking and responsible online behaviour. Its Teen Fact-Checking Network represents a distinctive approach because the programme places young people at the centre of the verification process. Rather than adults telling teenagers what is true and false, participating students investigate claims that appear in their own social media feeds. After researching a topic, they produce short-form videos explaining how they determined whether a claim was accurate, misleading, or entirely false.

The videos are then shared through MediaSmarts’ channels on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, creating content specifically designed for audiences that consume information predominantly through social media. According to information released by MediaSmarts, 25 teen fact-checkers have participated during the programme’s first two years. Together, their videos have generated more than 7.5 million views, indicating substantial engagement with youth-oriented fact-checking content.

The scale of that audience suggests that young people are willing to engage with media literacy content when it is presented in a format that feels relevant and accessible.

Learning practical verification skills

For the upcoming 2026-27 programme, participants will receive training from MediaSmarts specialists in critical thinking and digital verification techniques. Among the skills covered is reverse image searching, a method widely used by professional journalists and fact-checkers. Reverse image tools allow users to trace the origin of photographs, identify whether images have appeared previously in different contexts, and determine whether visual content has been manipulated.

Such techniques have become increasingly important as digitally altered images, artificial intelligence-generated content and misleading visual material spread online. The need for improved verification skills has been highlighted by researchers and fact-checking organisations worldwide. Even sophisticated AI systems can struggle to identify fabricated content accurately, according to recent reporting and expert analysis, demonstrating that technological solutions alone cannot eliminate the problem of misinformation.

Instead, advocates argue that individuals must develop their own critical assessment skills. For teenagers, this means learning to ask questions before sharing content:

Who created it? What evidence supports the claim? Can the information be verified through independent sources? Does the image match the context in which it is being presented?

These are the types of investigative habits the Teen Fact-Checking Network seeks to develop.

The growing challenge of youth misinformation

The programme arrives amid broader international concerns about the relationship between young people and online information. Studies have shown that adolescents increasingly rely on social media platforms as a primary source of news and information. While such platforms provide valuable opportunities for learning and engagement, they can also expose users to false or misleading content delivered through algorithms designed to maximise attention and engagement.

Misinformation can be particularly influential when it concerns subjects that matter directly to young people, including health, appearance, diet, mental wellbeing and emerging social trends. Recent reporting has highlighted how misleading health and nutrition advice can spread rapidly on social media, sometimes promoting scientifically unsupported recommendations. Similar concerns exist around fabricated images, manipulated videos and misleading claims relating to politics, science and environmental issues.

Media literacy experts often emphasise that misinformation is not always obvious. Some misleading content contains elements of truth mixed with inaccurate or unsupported claims, making critical evaluation especially important. That complexity helps explain why educational programmes increasingly focus on teaching analytical skills rather than simply providing lists of trustworthy sources.

A notable feature of the Teen Fact-Checking Network is that it focuses on resilience rather than restriction. Around the world, governments continue to debate measures designed to limit young people’s exposure to potentially harmful online content. However, many educators argue that media literacy offers a complementary approach by helping young people evaluate information independently.

The philosophy aligns with broader international efforts to strengthen media literacy. Finland, frequently cited as one of the world’s most media-literate countries, has integrated critical engagement with digital content throughout its educational system. The country consistently ranks highly for resilience against disinformation, illustrating the potential impact of sustained media literacy education.

MediaSmarts’ programme applies a similar concept within a Canadian context, focusing on practical skills that participants can use throughout their lives. By investigating real claims circulating online, students learn techniques that extend beyond individual fact-checking exercises. They develop habits of evidence gathering, source evaluation and reasoned analysis that are valuable in education, employment and civic participation.

One reason the Teen Fact-Checking Network has attracted attention is its emphasis on peer-to-peer communication. Research in education and communication frequently indicates that people can be especially receptive to messages delivered by individuals they identify with. For younger audiences, content created by fellow teenagers may therefore carry particular credibility. This approach also reflects the realities of contemporary social media. Young people often encounter information through their own networks rather than through traditional gatekeepers such as newspapers or broadcasters.

By enabling teenagers to explain verification techniques in their own voice, the programme aims to demonstrate that fact-checking is neither difficult nor reserved exclusively for professional journalists. Instead, it becomes a practical everyday skill.

Applications for the 2026-27 Teen Fact-Checking Network are open to teenagers across Canada until 28 September 2026. Further details are available through the programme’s official application portal at the MediaSmarts Teen Fact-Checking Network.