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Scams, misinformation, and anxiety can be tackled with critical thinking from early adolescence, argues specialist, explaining why parents should talk more, research with their children, and turn social media use into a learning experience.
Scams and other social media risks can be more effectively addressed when children and adolescents learn critical thinking from an early age. This is the assessment of Maree Davies, Senior Lecturer in Education and Social Practice at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, who argues that teaching young people to question, analyze, and carefully evaluate information can reduce vulnerability to misinformation, online dangers, and even anxiety.
The topic draws attention because it goes beyond the discussion of prohibiting or delaying social media use. According to the specialist, the most solid approach is to prepare children and adolescents to understand how platforms, algorithms, and content circulating on the internet work. In practice, this can help them better deal with scams, fake news, overstimulation, and situations that require autonomy, concentration, and problem-solving skills.
What is critical thinking and why can it protect against scams
Critical thinking, according to the specialist, is the ability to question, analyze, and carefully evaluate information or ideas before deciding what to believe or what to do. This includes considering counter-arguments, observing evidence, and comparing explanations before accepting a claim as true.
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In the digital environment, this skill becomes a form of protection. When a young person develops this reasoning, they tend to react with more caution to dubious content, misleading messages, false promises, and potential scams. Instead of automatically accepting everything, they begin to ask themselves if that information makes sense, if they need to seek more sources, and if it truly applies to all cases.
Why teaching this is more effective than just prohibiting social media
The specialist argues that teaching adolescents to think critically about any topic, not just social media, is more efficient than simply prohibiting access to platforms. The logic is simple: delaying contact does not guarantee that the young person will be prepared later to deal with algorithms, content manipulation, and online risks.
She emphasizes that it’s not enough to reach a certain age to automatically become more capable of safely using social media. Therefore, the focus should be on developing self-confidence and understanding how platforms work. The more adolescents understand this environment, the better prepared they are to identify scams, recognize manipulations, and act with greater awareness.
What changes in practice for parents and children in daily life
In the specialist’s view, parents can teach critical thinking through simple and frequent conversations. Instead of just warning about dangers, they can invite their children to research together, compare information, and observe how different sources treat the same topic.
She suggests phrases and attitudes that stimulate curiosity, such as commenting on information seen in the news and proposing a joint search for more context. This behavior, she says, helps show young people how to better investigate what they consume online. It also strengthens confidence so that children and adolescents recognize risks, including scams, and do not feel alone in the face of social media pressures.
How conversations at home can reduce misinformation and anxiety
The specialist states that critical thinking can also help in dealing with anxiety. This is because anxiety, at some level, is linked to a feeling of lack of control. When young people learn to better analyze what they see, they gain tools to react with more confidence and less impulsivity.
Another central point is regular conversation between parents and children. Setting aside time to listen to teenagers, share stories, and maintain an environment of dialogue can make a difference when they encounter bad news, extremist groups, misleading content, or even scams. According to the specialist, listening calmly and without overreacting is essential for teenagers to feel comfortable seeking help.
Early adolescence is seen as a decisive phase for developing these skills
The specialist highlights early adolescence as an especially important period for this learning. She explains that, around 11 years old for girls and 12 years old for boys, the brain undergoes significant neurological changes, with gray matter at a peak capacity.
At this stage, repeated activities performed consistently help strengthen connections. The specialist’s reasoning is that if critical thinking is exercised during this period, it tends to consolidate more strongly. This reinforces the idea that teaching young people to question information, evaluate evidence, and identify scams is not just a momentary guidance, but a long-term formation.
Why learning to change your mind can make such a difference
Among the guidelines given by the specialist is the importance of teaching adolescents to change their minds in light of evidence. For her, this behavior is fundamental for forming more flexible, less impulsive people who are better prepared to review positions when new facts emerge.
This process helps combat rigid stances and automatic responses very common in the digital environment. Instead of reacting only with emotion, young people learn to reconsider opinions and better support their arguments. This type of practice also reduces the chance of falling for misinformation, distorted narratives, and scams based on emotional appeal or false urgency.
What this means for creativity, autonomy, and the job market
The specialist also relates critical thinking and creativity to the professional future of young people. According to her, those who grow up depending on systems to summarize, generate ideas, and think for themselves may fail to develop essential skills. On the other hand, those who design, create, experiment, and solve problems tend to become more adaptable.
In practice, this means forming more flexible people, with greater capacity for innovation and ready to deal with new situations. The assessment is that employers value professionals capable of thinking, solving problems, and adapting to unforeseen scenarios. Thus, the same learning that helps face social media, misinformation, and scams can also increase preparation for a transforming job market.
Why conversation is a skill that needs to be taught
Another point highlighted by the specialist is that children and adolescents often learn to read and write, but not necessarily to converse deeply. For her, truly rich conversations require better questions, concrete examples, and a willingness to justify opinions clearly.
This type of exchange improves the quality of reasoning and makes young people better prepared for online and in-person environments. Instead of just repeating ready-made phrases or responding impulsively, they learn to argue, ask for examples, and better examine what they hear. This process increases maturity in handling debates, reduces vulnerability to manipulation, and creates more barriers against scams and other digital dangers.
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