Black, Latino Teens Excel at Detecting Online Disinformation

Study finds youth of color more adept at identifying and countering racist propaganda online

Feb. 3, 2026 at 1:15am

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A study by UC Riverside and USC education scholars found that Black and Latino teens are significantly more skilled than their white peers at detecting online disinformation, particularly content related to race and ethnicity. These youth are quicker to identify false claims and racist propaganda, and more likely to verify posts with credible sources and respond with fact-based content. The researchers say these critical digital literacy skills have developed from the lived experiences of navigating online racism, not from school-based instruction.

Why it matters

The findings challenge long-held assumptions about the digital literacy of Black and Latino youth, and suggest schools should build upon the existing skills of these students rather than ignore them. As misinformation becomes more targeted and sophisticated, understanding how youth of color engage with and respond to online racism is crucial for developing effective digital citizenship curricula.

The details

The study, published in the journal New Media & Society, examined the "Critical Race Digital Literacy" skills of over 100 Black adolescents, along with comparable numbers of Latino and white peers. Participants were asked to report daily how often they analyzed, responded to, or ignored race-related digital content. The results showed that many Black and Latino youth were more likely to challenge racist content by crafting their own social media posts to call out false information and share articles from reputable sources to counter divisive narratives. In contrast, white youths were less likely to question misleading posts concerning race, not because they are less intelligent, but because they haven't had to be as vigilant in navigating online racism.

  • The study was published on February 3, 2026.

The players

Avriel Epps

An assistant professor in UC Riverside's School of Education and the lead author of the study.

Brendesha Tynes

A University of Southern California professor of education and psychology, and the principal investigator of the National Survey of Critical Digital Literacy.

Matthew Coopilton

A co-author of the study from Cal State Northridge.

Devin English

A co-author of the study from Rutgers University.

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What they’re saying

“This work reveals that adolescents of color are already engaging in sophisticated forms of digital literacy. They have developed these critical skills in many cases from their lived experiences navigating online racism, not necessarily from school-based instruction.”

— Avriel Epps, Assistant Professor, UC Riverside School of Education

“It is essentially being able to recognize, critique, and evaluate digital media that young people consume with a lens that's focused on race and how it manifests racism.”

— Brendesha Tynes, Professor of Education and Psychology, University of Southern California

“These teens are often doing this work for their communities. It's very possible they're posting accurate information about social justice movements or correcting harmful stereotypes because they feel a sense of responsibility.”

— Avriel Epps, Assistant Professor, UC Riverside School of Education

What’s next

The researchers say the findings are particularly relevant as misinformation becomes more targeted and sophisticated, and as educators grapple with how to teach about race amid political battles over school curricula. They believe the critical digital literacy skills of youth of color offer a foundation upon which schools and policymakers can build better curricula.

The takeaway

This study challenges long-held assumptions about the digital literacy of Black and Latino youth, showing that they are more adept at detecting and countering online racism and disinformation. Rather than ignoring these skills, educators should recognize and build upon the existing critical digital literacy of students of color to develop more relevant and equitable digital citizenship curricula.