QUEZON City 5th District Representative Patrick Michael Vargas is taking a stand against the spread of fake news by pushing for the Digital Literacy in Schools Act.

The proposed measure aims to equip students with essential skills to critically assess online information and recognize misinformation.

The Digital Literacy in Schools Act is outlined in House Bill 8831, authored by Vargas.

If passed into law, it would integrate digital literacy education into the Basic Education Curriculum of all public schools in the country. This initiative seeks to prepare students to navigate the internet responsibly and discern credible information from false content.

Under the bill, the Department of Education would be mandated to include key topics in school modules, such as fact-checking, source verification, responsible social media use, and critical online content analysis.

These skills are seen as crucial in an era where misinformation spreads rapidly on digital platforms.

The bill also advocates for a capacity-building program for teachers.

This initiative would provide educators with the necessary training and resources to effectively teach digital literacy.

By equipping teachers with the right tools, the program ensures that students receive accurate and practical guidance on evaluating online content.

Vargas emphasized the urgency of this measure, given the widespread presence of fake news on the internet.

He stressed that young people must be prepared to assess the reliability of information they encounter on social media and other online sources.

Teaching them how to differentiate between fact and fiction is a crucial step in safeguarding them from manipulation and deception.

Through this initiative, Vargas hopes to empower students to become critical thinkers and responsible digital citizens.

By promoting digital literacy at an early age, the bill aims to protect the youth from falling victim to false information while fostering a culture of truth and accountability in the digital space.