By Sierra Filucci

Don't believe everything you read -- and other lessons a Savvy Auntie can provide for their nieces and nephews. This is especially important in this digital age we live in where we are constantly bombarded by news, advertisements, and other information.

When big news breaks, it's easy to get caught up in following the news online. But while the Internet -- from major news sites to Twitter -- can be a valuable place to find useful information, it can also be the source of misinformation. Helping kids and teens understand the news and how to separate fact from fiction is an important task.

Here's some advice you can offer your nieces and nephews who consume the news:

Remember, breaking news is often wrong. In the rush to cover stories, reporters make mistakes, officials don't always have correct information, and tidbits that sound plausible often get passed around before anyone can check for accuracy. One Texas TV station reported through closed captioning that Zooey Deschanel was one of the accused Boston Marathon bombers!

Use social media wisely. Some say Twitter is a great source of news in the first few minutes of a tragedy, but after that it just gets messy and largely inaccurate. On the other hand, Facebook can be a great way to connect with friends affected by news and spread personal news within a more limited circle, for example: "I've heard from all my Boston-area family and everyone's OK." (Of course, news links posted by friends on Facebook might contain unverified information, so take them with a grain of salt.)

Be skeptical. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. After the Boston Marathon bombing, NBC Sports reported that some runners kept running all the way to the hospital to donate blood for the victims. Not true. There are plenty of websites devoted to debunking fake news stories, like Snopes, Urban Legends Online, Truth or Fiction, and Factcheck. Visit them to find out if a story is true or not.

Stand back, take a break. With social media at your fingertips, it's tempting to weigh in with your opinion or pass along every tidbit that comes along. But restraint is necessary to avoid adding to the noise and confusion. We like the reasonable approach taken by NPR reporter Steve Inskeep, who cautioned listeners during the Boston Marathon aftermath, "We are collecting dots. It's a day to be careful about connecting them."

Stick with credible news sources. News sources that claim to have all the answers or jump to conclusions about why something happened are just adding to the fray. And remember that cable news channels make money off the news -- the more titillating the story, the more eyeballs watch, the more money they make. This wikihow offers a primer on how to determine the credibility of a source. Teaching nieces and nephews to ask questions, question the credibility of sources, and look for sources of bias will help them to become more well rounded individuals and encourage more independent thinking.

Keep it age appropriate. Younger teens and kids aren't always ready to digest big tragic news -- especially if it seems to affect kids, like school shootings or abuse scandals. The constant repetition of information can be overwhelming and confusing for younger nieces and nephews, and in the beginning of a news event, you or their parents might not be able to offer any reassuring answers right away. Kids who are eager to learn more about certain events can check kid-oriented news sources.

Sierra has been writing and editing professionally for more than a decade, with a special interest in women's and family subjects. She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley, where she wrote her thesis on juggling kids and cooking. With an extensive and abiding interest in pop culture, her role as TV and DVD editor brings her skills and obsessions together in perfect harmony. When she’s not watching Miyazaki movies with her two kids, she enjoys Parks and Recreation, The Walking Dead, and Top Chef.

Photo: whiteafrican via Flickr cc
Published: January 7, 2014