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Recognizing Fake News Now a Required Subject in California Schools

Pushing back against the surge of misinformation online, California will now require all K-12 students to learn media literacy skills—such as recognizing fake news and thinking critically about what they encounter on the internet.

In October 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 873, which requires the state to add media literacy to curriculum frameworks for English, language arts, science, math, history, and social studies, rolling out gradually beginning next year. Instead of a stand-alone class, the topic will be woven into existing classes and lessons throughout the school year.

“I’ve seen the impact that misinformation has had in the real world—how it affects the way people vote, whether they accept the outcomes of elections, try to overthrow our democracy,” said the bill’s sponsor, Assembly Member Marc Berman, a Democrat from Menlo Park. “This is about making sure our young people have the skills they need to navigate this landscape.”

The new law comes amid rising public distrust in the media, especially among young people. A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that adults under age 30 are nearly as likely to believe information on social media as they are from national news outlets. Overall, only 7% of adults have “a great deal” of trust in the media, according to a Gallup poll conducted last year.

Media literacy can help change that, advocates believe, by teaching students how to recognize reliable news sources and the crucial role that media plays in a democracy.

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