Hi there,

News and information online is written to make sure people watch or click on it. This can sometimes mean it’s written in a way to worry, scare, or anger you. It’s always good to talk about the things you’ve seen to help you think about it fully.

It’s important to remember that even when a site looks official or might not always be real. Fake news is when someone posts information online that’s not actually true, and it can often look very real. It’s not always easy to spot fake news, but we’ve got advice to help.

Even news that’s real can be written or presented in ways to scare you. Making you feel scared makes people more likely to share or engage with content. If you’re starting to get scared about war of anything you’ve seen online, the best thing you can do is talk about it.

Talking about what you’ve seen with an adult you trust can help you think about the facts and what they might actually mean. Even if something is scary, someone you trust can also help you feel more in control of what to do next. We’ve also got lots of advice to help you understand and cope with worrying news.

It’s not always easy talking to people in your life, but Childline is here to support you. Our counsellors are here to support you with anything you’re worried about and can give you a space to talk about what you’ve seen.

Take care,

Sam