If you listen closely in the halls, during the transition in Collegio, in the back of a lit study, or to a group of friends on the plaza, there is political discussion between Prep students.  Although where the conversation takes place, who is speaking, and what is being said differ, most conversations have something in common. Misinformation. Whether it is just one fact or the whole conversation, misinformation is present in most Prep students’ political discussions. In order to tackle the fake news epidemic, we must go to the source.

We need more education on current events and how to sift through fake news. Most students are not getting their ideas about politics from peer-reviewed pieces like they used for the Junior Research Paper. Students are going on social media. Apps like TikTok and Instagram use an algorithm that shows you what you want to see. No matter where you stand politically, social media can display lies based on whatever you want to believe that day. The lack of education in school, combined with an avalanche of fake news, has led to students with misinformed opinions.

Collegio and theology should not only teach about the past, but they should also educate students on the history happening now. Away from the bias of social media, students should be given information about current events. National and local elections, wars, tariffs, and the shutdown of the government should be covered in class. Five minutes a day covering current events easily prevents misinformed opinions, bias, political disputes, and ignorance.

Additionally, students should be given tools to sort through fake news themselves. Prep students will not always have someone to spoon-feed them the truth. Especially as AI advances, it is critical that students can differentiate facts from lies. In addition to the media literacy class for freshmen,  Prep should provide more education to students on how to sort through fake news.

Seattle Prep is not only supposed to prepare us for college, it is supposed to prepare us for life. Students will not be successful if they have opinions formed on misinformation. Students will not be successful if they cannot discern the truth from lies. Seattle Prep has a duty to help us form factual political opinions that we are confident sharing.