The debates about the use of fake news and propaganda two sway the 2016 U.S presidential election outcome highlighted the spreading menace that is fake news. This has prompted the use of measures that are aimed at helping to curb the spread of fake news.

Some of those measures currently being used include teaching people how to identify and flag fake news. The strategy used in educating students on identifying fake news involves teaching them the need to question who posted the content and the motive behind posting it. This approach has been gaining traction in a Coney Island, Brooklyn school called Herbert S. Eisenberg Intermediate School 303 as part of news literacy education.

The school made it necessary for students to learn the news literacy subject for at least one hour every week. This approach is important because it helps them to grow up with important skills that they can use to scrutinize online content including stories and images. This approach is important in tackling the problem of fake news. Once they identify potentially fake news, they can help flag it and prevent the spread of such.

Media and news literacy is quickly becoming a necessity because it can help prevent some of the current problems in the world. For example, it can help people make better decisions when it comes to voting, thus ensuring a more legitimate democratic approach. Fake news is also dangerous because it fuels extremist actions. This means that having more control over fake news and preventing the spread of such content may go a long way in ensuring a safer country.

The current momentum in the pursuit of news literacy is expected to help bring about significant change. Even high schools and universities in the U.S have been working on including news literacy into the curriculum. However, there is a need to ensure that students receive online education in early stages especially in elementary school and in high school so that it has a bigger impact in the fight against fake news. The older they get, the more attention they give to hotly contested issues and if they have not gone through news literacy, then that increases their chances of spreading fake news.