Be a Smart Little Viewer
FoundationAds want our money and online news can be false; think, check and ask — be a smart little viewer.
- Media give us information, but not all of it is true.
- Ads want us to buy; think first whether you need it.
- Exaggerated and scare-style news is mostly false.
文體小知識：說明文教我們分析看到聽到的資訊：想一想、查一查、問一問，不被假消息騙倒。
§Text Passage
1Every day we receive lots of information from TV, radio, newspapers and the internet — these are the media. Media bring us news and knowledge, but not everything is true, so we must be smart little viewers.
2Advertisements are common messages in the media, made to make us buy things. The toy in the ad looks big and fun, but the real one may be much smaller. Before an ad, ask yourself: is it trying to sell me something? Do I really need it?
3False news also spreads online. Some videos claim a certain sweet makes you fly — clearly exaggerated. Exaggerated, scary, or share-or-else messages are mostly untrustworthy. To check: ask Mum, Dad or the teacher, and see whether official websites say the same thing.
4The smart viewer's three steps: first think — what does this message want me to do; second check — do other sources confirm it; third ask — if unsure, consult an adult. Media are good tools: used wisely, you learn more; used carelessly, you get fooled. Practise the three steps early and you will be an information expert!
1Summary 重點摘要
Ads want our money and online news can be false; think, check and ask — be a smart little viewer.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Tools that spread information, such as TV, newspapers and websites.
A message made to attract people to buy something.
News and knowledge that tell us about things.
To find out whether a message is really true.
A made-up message that is not true.
Putting several sources side by side to see if they agree.
To decide after thinking whether to believe something.
A webpage run by the government or an organisation; its news is most reliable.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Know the mediaTV news, radio, newspapers and webpages are all media, bringing us information every day. Media help us know about big events in the world and news of society, but the content is made by people and may be right or wrong, or may show only one side of the matter. A smart viewer does not believe everything said; watch the different media around you and compare how they report the same event.
- Step 2: See through adsAdvertisements are shows or pictures that want to attract us to buy things, and they always make products sound wonderful. The remote-control car looks big and fast in the ad, but the real one may fit in your palm, need assembling, and want batteries bought separately. Ads also use lovely music, bright pictures and stars to win children's hearts; yet a pretty picture does not mean a good product. When you see an ad, first think whether you truly need it, and decide only after talking with Mum and Dad.
- Step 3: Spot false newsFalse news sometimes appears online and in chat groups, made to scare or trick people. A message saying share this or bad things will happen is a scare trick — do not believe it, and there is no need to be afraid. False news is usually written in exaggerated words and demands sharing with everyone at once; seeing these signs means be careful — do not forward, do not reply, tell an adult first and let them judge and handle it, so you are neither frightened nor helping it spread.
- Step 4: Learn to verifyWhether news is true or false, you only know after checking — never just listen and repeat. Heard school is off tomorrow? Look for an announcement on the Education Bureau's official website, then ask the teacher or your parents to confirm; official websites and announcements are the most trustworthy, while messages and videos of unknown origin deserve no easy trust. You may also compare several reliable sources and trust them only when they agree. Make checking a habit, and false news stops when it reaches us.
- Step 5: Think before forwardingBefore forwarding a message, think over three questions: is it true? Who said it? What happens if it spreads? The class group says the school will have no water tomorrow — confirm it is true before telling the family; if you cannot find the source, do not pass it on. If everyone is a little careful, false news has no road left to travel, the group's messages become more reliable, and no one need be frightened by rumours.
- Step 6: Use the three stepsSmart viewers follow three steps: think, check, and ask. Seeing a free games console ad — first think: what does it want me to do? Second check: does the official website have such an offer? Third ask: what do Mum and Dad say? Use the three steps until they are easy, and you can face any message calmly without being tricked; with the habit formed, we are truly smart little viewers.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: Ming sees a video claiming that typhoon signal ten will be hoisted in Hong Kong tomorrow and urging everyone to stockpile food. The scenes look scary. Should he forward it to the whole class?
- First think: signal ten is rare, the claim is wildly exaggerated, and the tone presses people to share at once.
- Check: open the Hong Kong Observatory's official website and app to see whether any announcement exists.
- Ask: consult Mum and Dad and compare what the adults know with the video.
- Conclusion: do not forward before it is confirmed, so the false news stops spreading and classmates need not worry.
- Answer: He should not forward it. Verify with the Observatory's official site and adults first; without an official announcement it is false news — never passing on unconfirmed messages is the smart viewer's way.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is the purpose of an advertisement?
Q2What should we do with exaggerated online news?
Q3How do we verify a message?
Q4Is a share-this-or-else message trustworthy?
Q5What are the smart viewer's three steps?
8Recap Recap
- Media give us information, but not all of it is true.
- Ads want us to buy; think first whether you need it.
- Exaggerated and scare-style news is mostly false.
- Verify on official websites and with adults.
- Think, check and ask — be a smart little viewer.