Youth fact checks

On 28 April 2025, a massive power outage left most of Spain and Portugal without electricity for hours. This event was widely covered in news outlets and on social media. As young people, we saw that almost immediately after the blackout, many different explanations and theories started circulating online — and not all of them were based on facts. Because so many people were confused or worried, we decided to dig into what information was true and what was misleading or false.

We often see posts and comments online claiming that vaccines are rushed to market and not tested properly before people receive them. These claims usually appear during outbreaks, vaccination campaigns, or debates about public health policies. Because vaccines are given to millions of people, it’s understandable that safety concerns create strong emotions and fear.

Multitasking is often presented as a skill everyone should have. At school, at home, and online, we are encouraged to do several things at once - listen to music while studying, check messages during lessons, or switch between apps every few seconds. Many adults even say that young people are “naturally good” at multitasking because we grew up with technology. As youth fact-checkers, we wanted to see if this idea is actually true.

Scrolling through social media, it feels like everyone has a “life hack” that promises to make everyday problems disappear in seconds. These videos are usually short, confident, and visually convincing, which makes them easy to trust and even easier to share. As young people who spend a lot of time online, we see these hacks daily—often reposted by friends or even adults who assume they must work because they look simple and smart.