View from Finland: Misinformation fight begins with education - Velshi - MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

Misinformation is a global issue – one that heavily impacts us here in the U.S. as false information about vaccines, voter fraud, and other conspiracies run rampant. Multiple studies have shown that Americans’ trust in the media and the government is at an all-time low. So how do we combat the phenomenon?

Finland leads European nations in media literacy and resiliency against misinformation. Finland’s national strategy emphasizes media education and critical thinking starting in kindergarten – hoping to equip young students with skills to identify false information, bots, deepfake videos and manipulated images, as well as propaganda messaging, and half-truths. - Aired on 01/22/2023.

[brer cat]

1. That is interesting and very much needed.

When I was in high school in the early 1960s, I was invited to take a summer seminar on propaganda. It was an eyeopening experience, and of course, this was long before the age of the web and the vast amount of misinformation we are flooded with today. I wish our schools had courses like these in Finland to help people develop critical thinking. It would end the republican party of today!

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I sure do, too.

It's scary to think of the propaganda being dispensed in some schools today. And this is on top of all the time kids missed due to lockdowns. I spoke with a teacher awhile back and she told me that the kids no longer knew how to behave while in school and there were fights! Schools have a lot to make up for, so the last thing they need is misinformation, yet it's happening in some states.

And I agree with you, courses like you took and what's available in Finland are not only necessary, but it would result in a lot fewer Republicans!