Last year, a student led organization was founded to tackle the growing issue of misinformation and disinformation in today’s digital age. Created by senior Flora Uslander and junior Sara Torres, along with Neekou, a now-graduated freshman from college, the organization aims to educate peers on media literacy and promote truthful, responsible online communication. Originally just for Costa High School students, the group expanded this year to include middle school students and freshmen at Costa.
At the start of creating this program the Costa students worked closely with a program called Pen America to launch their program, but now run the organization independently. They continue their commitment to empowering students with the tools to fight digital deception. Through workshops and events, they provide opportunities for students to improve their media literacy skills.
“Neekou, Sara, and I started Digital Truths because we identified a need for better research skills within our community, ” said Uslander. “As a Model UN student, research is always needed when preparing for debates. Since there is so much research focused on foreign policy, knowing the facts and understanding bias is imperative. Since last year, our network has grown, and Lily Afify and I were selected to be on the youth board for the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE).”
A crucial part of the group’s program is to host workshops, which help students sharpen their skills in identifying fake news and navigating media. On March 11th, they held a successful workshop that drew 65 delegates from a variety of grade levels. The workshop featured hands-on activities, allowing students to use their creativity to present the knowledge they had gained about media literacy practices.
“The workshop helped me prepare because I got to match the faces and personalities to faces and I got to see how they spoke and presented while also getting some background info to form the bases of my solutions,” said Freshman Charlotte Cook. “We did a rap assignment that also helped me get used to talking in front of everyone.”
This approach encouraged participants to think critically and apply what they had learned in fun and engaging ways. It also helped prepare them for the upcoming “MUN”stitue event. By making the learning process interactive, the workshop ensured that students could grasp media literacy concepts in a memorable way.
“It was really rewarding to be on the other side of the debate process and to see the discussions held by the delegates all come together at the end into resolutions,” said Junior Kayla Smith.
To fund their efforts, the organization hosted a bake sale on March 8th and 9th, raising money for their Digital Truths MUN event. The bake sale was a huge success, and the funds helped cover the costs of organizing the MUNstitue event. Holding this fundraiser allowed them to provide the best possible event as they expanded their program.
“This year, we expanded our “MUN”stitute to the middle school MUN club, and it was amazing to see their enthusiasm,” said Uslander. “Last year, we gave numerous presentations on media literacy skills to Hermosa Valley and MBMS. There seems to be great appreciation for learning about how to combat misinformation among younger audiences. For future years, we plan on doubling our efforts within the middle school.”
On March 20th, from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., the “MUN”stitue event took place at Costa, run by the juniors in Costa’s MUN. The event brought together students of all ages to participate in simulations where they could debate and discuss issues related to digital misinformation. The event’s structure was designed to foster collaboration and encourage problem-solving.
“I was so happy to see so many young kids so engaged in a topic as important as this,” said Junior Sydney Huber. “In general, seeing how much they had learned through their research and hard work throughout the debate made me super proud to be a part of something as impactful as digital truths.”
Students had the opportunity to engage with the issue in a meaningful way, strengthening their understanding of media literacy. The MUNstitue was a demonstration of the growth of the organization, as students led the event, showing their ability to organize and execute the program. This leadership reinforced the importance of peer-led initiatives in making a lasting impact.
“I think the skills that you learned will help in the future bc it’s always good to know how to properly talk in front of groups of people and mun conferences, especially unmod, which teaches me how to deal and work with different ppl and different personalities,” said Cook.
Through their hard work, dedication, and collaboration, the organization has successfully empowered students to become more informed and responsible digital citizens. The experience highlighted the importance of youth leadership in driving change and fostering a culture of truth and transparency. With the MUNstitue now behind them, the organization looks forward to continuing its mission, working toward a future where misinformation no longer dominates our digital landscape.
“I definitely think this event impacted the way students approach the media. It helped them recognize crucial signs of misinformation and disinformation through the after-school workshop and lengthy research process,” said Huber. “With this knowledge, they are now able to recognize when their source of information is unreliable almost instantly. This will help them not fall for any false information that can be spread extremely easily and quickly!”
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