Ok, this is not going to be a well formulated question, because the concerns behind it are nebulous in my own head.
Some assumptions I have, that clearly inform the question that follows: I believe commercial, state, and others have sophisticated methods of influencing what I see on social media and thus, in part, what I think. I also believe that someone more willing to believe in the types of conspiratorial beliefs I’ve just expressed are more likely to be manipulated by information they’re exposed to. And, yes, I fully appreciate the irony of those beliefs.
My child is adult enough that belief patterns I encourage are very unlikely to become deep patterns. That is, I’d have to work to indoctinate my son, and he’d actively resist if my indoctrination was outside of societal norms.
He didn’t grow up exposed to the social media I suspect children do now.
How does a parent inoculate a child to the influence of social media without also creating a mindset willing to believe in a nebulous “them” that controls things—a mindset, I believe, that makes a person more likely to be controlled?
Research. Verification. Take in each story knowing that there is a possibility it could be fabricated, then use objective sources and/or common sense to discern their veracity. Stories from sources that prove themselves trustworthy can (generally) be trusted in the future.
Or put simply: do your homework, trust but verify.
Makes sense, and that definitely helps, but I’m also thinking about influence campaigns manipulating upvotes/downvotes to change what is seen on comments as well as the reputation of media sources.
Not to belittle this suggestion. It’s a powerful one that should not lead to bias.