In Bihar villages, children are learning to fight fake news. Study shows classrooms help

New Delhi: From vaccine hesitancy to political violence, misinformation is a global crisis. A new study, however, states that critical thinking, taught early and locally, can inoculate communities against lies. In 583 villages across Bihar, children as young as 13 gathered in community libraries to learn how to identify and challenge misinformation.

According to a new study—Countering Misinformation Early: Evidence from a Classroom-Based Field Experiment in India—published in the American Political Science Review, simple classroom lessons can effectively combat rumours that cause panic, worsen health crises, and spark violence. Priyadarshi Amar, Sumitra Badrinathan, Simon Chahuchard, and Florian Sichart co-authored the paper and emphasised India as a crucial case for comprehending the te