Deepfakes to Viral Hoaxes: Teaching Media Literacy in the Classroom
Teach media literacy with ready-to-use lessons and PD.
Originally published: May 2024 | Updated: November 2025 to include new research, teaching resources, and mental health connections.
Growing up, my days were often spent unraveling the intricate plots of my favorite TV shows (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Naruto) and decoding the secrets hidden within pixelated video game realms (Final Fantasy VII, The Legend of Zelda). These were not just idle pastimes; they were my first forays into understanding a world much larger than my own—a world brimming with messages, both overt and hidden. As digital media envelops every aspect of our lives, the need for media literacy in our education system has never been more urgent. It’s not just about understanding mis- and disinformation; it’s about empowering our students to navigate through this labyrinth with critical eyes and inquisitive minds.
The Current State of Media Literacy in U.S. Education
As I interact with educators across the country through my work, it's clear that while media literacy is touched upon in some curricula, it often lacks consistency and depth. Many educators are doing their best with the resources at hand, but the patchwork coverage can leave significant gaps. We don’t want our students swimming in a sea of digital content without the necessary life jackets to keep them afloat in the turbulent waters of misinformation.
What Is Media Literacy?
Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all types of media. As defined by the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE), it helps students think critically about how media messages are made—and why they’re made.
In the classroom, teaching media literacy means giving students the tools to question what they see and hear, recognize bias or misinformation, and make more informed choices about the media they trust, share, and create.
Why Is Media Literacy Important for Students?
Students are constantly exposed to a flood of media—news, social posts, videos, ads—all competing for their attention. From AI-generated deepfakes to viral hoaxes, they’re expected to make quick decisions about what’s real and what’s misleading. According to Common Sense Media’s 2025 teen research, more than half of teens say they’ve been misled by online content that seemed real but wasn’t. And their 2021 census on teen media use shows screen time continues to rise, often without critical media skills to match.
Teaching media literacy gives students the tools to slow down, ask better questions, and think critically about the information they engage with. It’s not just about spotting fakes—it’s about building habits of curiosity, skepticism, and informed decision-making.
Benefits of Media Literacy for Educators
Teaching media literacy doesn’t have to be another item on your already full syllabus—it can breathe new life into every subject you teach. Consider a history unit where students analyze wartime propaganda using the “Exploring Ancient Portraits & Propaganda: Then and Now” lesson, or a science class that challenges students to evaluate how climate change is portrayed in media using “Teaching About Our Climate Crisis: Combining Games and Critical Thinking to Fight Misinformation.”
Media literacy enhances classroom learning by helping students connect course content to the real-world media they interact with every day.
Media Literacy Week
Each year, U.S. Media Literacy Week—organized by the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE)—celebrates the importance of teaching media literacy in schools and communities. The week features nationwide events, classroom activities, and online campaigns that spotlight how media literacy helps students become thoughtful, informed participants in today’s digital world.
Hundreds of partners across the country contribute lesson plans, workshops, and resources. Educators can explore NAMLE’s Media Literacy Week overview to find ideas and get involved.
How to Integrate Media Literacy into Lesson Plans
Integrating media literacy into the classroom doesn’t have to be complicated. It might be as simple as asking students to question the source of a video—or as involved as a project where they produce their own media content.
For current events, Share My Lesson’s original series, Today’s News, Tomorrow’s Lesson, offers timely prompts and classroom-ready resources that encourage students to analyze the news through a media literacy lens. Another hands-on option: this TeachRock lesson on using ratios to identify social media engagement uses Beyoncé’s audience data to explore how media and math intersect.
These practical activities aren’t just engaging—they also help students think more critically about how media influences their attention, emotions, and overall mental health. A recent study from Ofcom highlights how media literacy education can support positive mental wellbeing, especially for young people navigating complex digital spaces.
How Media Literacy Supports Student Mental Health
The connection between media literacy and mental health is becoming harder for educators to ignore. Platforms like TikTok are full of mental health advice—some of it helpful, much of it misleading. A recent analysis from Education Week shows how young people are regularly exposed to unverified content that can create more confusion than clarity.
Students need tools to make sense of what they’re seeing. Media literacy gives them a way to evaluate mental health content critically, question the credibility of what they find online, and recognize when advice lacks evidence or reliability. Lessons like “Likes vs. Learning: The Real Cost of Social Media in Schools”, “Smartphones, Children and Mental Health”, and this “AFT Book Club: A Conversation with Jonathan Haidt” webinar—which explores the impact of screen time, social media use, and digital platforms on adolescent mental health—can help open up these critical conversations in classrooms and at home.
When media literacy becomes part of the conversation around student wellness, it doesn’t just sharpen critical thinking—it supports healthier habits, emotional awareness, and more thoughtful digital choices.
Media Literacy Lessons and Professional Development for Educators
You don’t have to do this work alone. Share My Lesson offers a growing collection of media literacy teaching resources and professional development opportunities—created by educators, for educators. Whether you're looking for a quick activity or in-depth training, you’ll find practical, creative ways to bring media literacy into any subject.
Explore the free resources below to expand your toolkit and connect with a community of educators who are passionate about teaching students to think critically about the media they consume and create.
Constructing Media Bias
This lesson from the Close Up Foundation helps students understand that media bias isn’t always about falsehoods—it’s often in how facts are framed. Acting as journalists, students report the same story from different perspectives, uncovering how tone and emphasis can shape audience perception.
Defining Mis- and Disinformation: A Toolkit for Teaching and Instilling Critical Thinking Skills
This AFT-sponsored toolkit is based on extensive conversations with educators, parents and experts in mis- and disinformation. You'll find slide decks, case studies and more to enhance your teaching of media literacy and disinformation.
Exploring Ancient Portrait Busts and Propaganda Then and Now
Students explore the question: Why is art used as propaganda? In this critical thinking activity from the J. Paul Getty Museum, students compare ancient and modern uses of propaganda, examine its goals, and analyze how art influences public perception. This resource encourages thoughtful discussion on the power of imagery in shaping narratives.
Anti-Bias Education: Using Media to Foster Critical Thinking and Combat Antisemitism and Islamophobia
This webinar with Journeys in Film highlights key aspects of anti-bias education and shares film-related resources specific to antisemitism and Islamophobia. This includes highlighting a lesson regarding antisemitism, which places antisemitism within the context of the rise of white supremacy, especially in the U.S. This session also highlights films and film-related resources that offer students a broader understanding of Islam and the Muslim world and discuss the value and importance of "windows and mirrors" in educational spaces to support student self-esteem and learning.
Freedom of the Press in a Changing Media Landscape: Teaching Journalism Ethics via Navalny and The Post
How can you teach about the freedom of the press in a constantly changing media landscape? Read this blog with free resources from Journeys in Film and explore journalism ethics, mis- and disinformation, and learning guides for Navalny and The Post.
Classification in Darfur: Identity, Media Literacy, & Case Study of First Stage of Genocide
This interdisciplinary unit (grades 8–12) introduces students to the first stage of genocide—classification—through the Darfur conflict. Grounded in The Ten Stages of Genocide and aligned with media literacy, it explores identity, bias, civic action, and global conflict. With anchor texts, news analysis, and differentiated supports, this resource empowers students to recognize injustice and take action.
What to Know About the Rise of Mental Health Misinformation on Social Media Ask ChatGPT
This Today’s News, Tomorrow’s Lesson explores the spread of mental health misinformation on platforms like TikTok. Students analyze how social media shapes perceptions, discuss the impact of unvetted advice, and practice identifying credible mental health sources—building both media literacy and critical thinking skills.
Spreading Fake News
This particular unit and the four lessons address the spread of fake news and make connections with the theme of "Freedom of the Press" with an emphasis on the question: What can schools do to educate for media literacy and the critical consumption of information provided by the media?
From "Illustrated Songs" to the Music Video: A History of Sound and Image
This lesson plan guides students through the evolution of music videos, analyzing sound and image relationships, and evaluating media's societal impact. This resource from TeachRock is perfect for enhancing media literacy and critical thinking in your students, offering engaging and informative classroom discussions on multimedia content.
A Media-Literate Future
Digital media shapes nearly every part of our students’ lives—from how they learn to how they connect with the world. That’s why advocating for strong media literacy education in schools isn’t optional—it’s essential. Talk with fellow educators, share what’s working in your classroom, and bring your voice to local and national conversations. You can also join us on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and other platforms to stay connected with a community of educators committed to this work.
I grew up alongside the internet—curious, overwhelmed, and constantly learning. That experience still drives me today. Media literacy isn’t just another lesson; it’s a lifelong skill that helps students think critically, question what they see, and take control of how they engage with the media around them.
When we treat media literacy as a core part of education—not a side topic—we help students become informed, thoughtful digital citizens. They gain the confidence to navigate complexity, the tools to protect their mental well-being, and the mindset to lead with curiosity and clarity.
Let’s keep pushing for a future where media literacy is not just taught—it’s championed.
📰 Find Even More Media Literacy Resources
Give your students the tools to think critically, spot misinformation, and understand the media they consume. Explore lesson plans, classroom activities, and professional development designed to build essential media literacy skills across subjects and grade levels.
Andy Kratochvil is a proud member of the AFT Share My Lesson team, where he’s passionate about discovering and sharing top-tier content with educators across the country. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and French from California State University, Fullerton, and later completed... See More
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