In an age when news, images, and messages travel faster than ever — especially in moments of crisis and conflict — distinguishing truth from alarmism or false information is both a vital skill and an essential civic duty.
Fake or Not is an information literacy initiative born in the days following October 7, 2023 and the outbreak of the ensuing war, out of the understanding that the need to address media and information literacy within educational and social frameworks has become urgent. We are witnessing an ever-growing flood of fabricated information, images, and videos on social media—both in routine times and in emergencies—alongside the rapid development of artificial intelligence tools shaping the information available to the public.
Amid the reality of a difficult and ongoing war and political conflict and polarisation, social media platforms play a central role in shaping public discourse, knowledge and opinions, including those of children and adolescents who consume most of their content on social media platforms across a wide range of subjects. Coping with this reality requires strengthening educational processes and integrating skills of critical thinking, reading, and interpretation of knowledge that is shaped and disseminated through social media.
Educational modules broken down by topic. Each link leads to an engaging, interactive lesson plan.
Fake or Not is a media and information literacy project built around the belief that identifying false or misleading information (“fake”) is a basic civic skill every child needs to learn in the digital age — one that shapes how we see the world, and how the world sees us. The project offers educational modules, guided activities, and curated content that help participants:
- Learn the difference between fact and opinion
- Understand the importance of critical thinking and media consumption skills
- Understand different types of misinformation
- Recognize common signs of misinformation both in normal times and during emergencies
- Develop strategies and filters for critically evaluating content online
This important initiative is the fruit of collaboration between the Israel Internet Association (ISOC-IL), the Israel Democracy Institute, and the Mofet Institute, and gives students, educators, decision makers and the public the tools needed to navigate today’s challenging information landscape.
One example of Fake or Not’s downloadable posters.
All the core content is available in Hebrew and Arabic, and its resource repository for educators and students includes educational modules broken down by topic (e.g. “What is false information?”, “Misinformation in war”, “How to distinguish fact from opinion”); curriculum-integrated educational modules, tailored for a variety of subjects — including Biology, Literature, Film, English, Communications, Art, Bible, and Language; and a skill-based approach that lets participants build a critical lens or “filter” to assess information rather than passively consume it.
One of the 7 types of online misinformation: Satire or Parody. Each type of misinformation is explained with a relatable example.
When conflict breaks out, or when emergency situations unfold, the flood of information is overwhelming. Real images, true stories, and urgent appeals compete with rumors, manipulated media, and conspiracy theories. The stakes are high:
- False content can cause panic, confusion, or mistrust
- Misinformation may encourage harmful actions or make people more vulnerable
- It can erode social cohesion and spread fear
Fake or Not helps counter this by equipping children and students with methods to stop and ask the right questions before they share content online: Who shared this message? Why now? What evidence supports it? How reliable is the source?
False information doesn’t stay on screens — it seeps into relationships, into public health, into social trust. In times of crisis, it can cost lives. Fake or Not empowers youth and their educators to see the digital world with sharper eyes, to demand evidence, and to act with care, creating a safer and more trustworthy online environment for all of us and especially our children.
Link to the Fake or Not website – https://www.fakeornot.org.il/