Start with curiosity, not fear
Young people meet news constantly, through videos, group chats and social feeds. Rather than banning it or lecturing, ask what they have seen lately and what they made of it. Treat it as a shared interest, and they are more likely to come to you when something confuses or upsets them.
Teach three questions
A simple routine works at almost any age: Who made this? What do they want me to feel or do? How could I check it? Practise on a few examples together, such as an advert, a viral clip or a headline, until the questions become automatic.
Show that anyone can make a mistake
Explain that even careful people and respected outlets sometimes get things wrong, and that good ones correct their mistakes. This helps young people avoid two traps: believing everything, and believing nothing.
Talk about how feeds work
Many platforms show you more of whatever keeps you watching. Explaining that a feed is designed to hold attention, and that it can show people very different versions of the world, helps young people see their feed as a choice made by software.
Handle upsetting news gently
Frightening events can be distressing. Keep explanations honest and calm, pitched to their age, and focus on what is being done to help. Limit repeated exposure to disturbing images, and check in afterwards.
Model the behaviour
Children copy what they see. If they watch you check a claim before sharing it, or say 'let me look that up', they learn more than any lesson could teach them.