Older Americans are disproportionately more likely to share fake news on Facebook, according to a new analysis by researchers at New York and Princeton universities. According to the report, “Older users shared more fake news than younger ones regardless of education, sex, race, income, or how many links they shared. In fact, age predicted their behavior better than any other characteristic — including party affiliation.” Researchers offered two theories for why older people share fake news on Facebook at rates much higher than other age groups: they lack the digital literacy skills of their younger counterparts, and they experience age-induced cognitive decline. (The Verge)

Talking point: The report challenges the widely-held belief that digital literacy should be focused on young internet users. Last year, Civix and The Canadian Journalism Foundation teamed up with the help of Google to launch NewsWise, a news literacy program for students in Grades 5 to 12, meant to help students cultivate habits of news consumption and critical-thinking that support informed citizenship. The study’s findings dovetail with voting habits. With more older people voting than any other age group and now concrete evidence that they also share more fake news, one should expect these traits will impact Canada’s federal election this fall.