Teacher Guidance: This resource is designed as a flexible independent study module. It serves as an ideal homework assignment, a self-directed research task for classroom use, a meaningful cover lesson, or a home-learning project.
Work through the tasks below to explore the debate, weigh the evidence, and decide where you stand.
PowerPoint Presentation: Open the attached presentation to get an overview of the key concepts, laws, and real-world examples.
Newsround Video: Watch the BBC Newsround clip on fake news (Watch here).
What is Fake News?: Read the BBC Newsround guide (Read here). Write down a short, one-sentence definition of what fake news is in your own words.
4. Create a Table
Create a table of all the arguments for and against whether making the writing and sharing of fake news illegal would be a good idea or a bad idea
5. Research
Choose a major tech company or social media platform that is trying to tackle fake news (for example, Meta, TikTok, or Google).
Research what steps they are taking to flag, remove, or reduce fake news, and write a short paragraph answering: Do you think their methods are actually successful, or are they failing?
6. Debate
“Fake news is an incredibly dangerous thing. Writing, spreading or promoting fake news should be considered a criminal activity. All it takes is one particularly angry individual to read a fake news article and act upon it with threats of violence or worse.”
“Making fake news illegal is a difficult thing to do as matters of opinion don’t need to be based upon facts – simply emotions or our morals. If we make fake news illegal, what’s to say a government wouldn’t then ban anything criticising or opposing them in order to silence those who don’t agree with them?”
What do you think? Should writing and spreading fake news be considered a crime?
7. Create
Answer the Big Question: Should writing and spreading fake news be considered a crime?
Choose how to present your final argument and conclusion. Options include:
A persuasive speech or a formal letter to your local MP.
An informational poster or a digital mind map.
A script for a short video or social media clip breaking down both sides of the argument.
A written piece, rap, or a mock social media feed tracking a fake news story unfolding.
Make sure your final piece weighs up the pros and cons and clearly states your personal conclusion.