German Students Struggle to Identify Fake News, Pisa Study Reveals

Less than half of German teenagers feel confident assessing online information quality, highlighting significant gaps in digital literacy.

A special analysis of the latest Pisa study found that only 47% of German students feel capable of evaluating the quality of online information, below the OECD average of 51%.
While 69% of German students reported ease in finding information online, many lack the ability to critically assess its accuracy or reliability.
Nearly 40% of German students do not verify the accuracy of online content before sharing it on social media, compared to 28% in the OECD average.
Digital literacy challenges are compounded by limited access to digital tools in schools and a lack of confidence in teachers' digital competence, with only 50% of students rating their teachers as proficient in using digital devices.
Experts warn that inadequate critical thinking skills around online information can lead to increased vulnerability to misinformation, societal polarization, and challenges to democratic values.