I think April Fool’s is one of the most important holidays of the 21st century. Hear me out. Many holidays and festivals were once used to remind us of important life lessons necessary to survive in whatever culture they originated from.

Discounting the rampant attempts at humor that fall flat and the cruelty of certain pranks (that to be fair, often come from people who celebrate such cruelty the other 364 days of the year), I feel we NEED a day of playful deceit.

The world is currently overrun with information pollution, lies, half-truths, and empty opinion packaged as fact. It makes it unbelievably difficult to find trustworthy information about anything.

Taking a day once a year where we consciously remind ourselves to check our sources, learn to research, and identify good data is an essential survival skill for the modern human tribe.

Much of misinformation you’ll see today is harmless: TV shows getting uncanceled, toys that we wish were going to be produced, ect. These gentle lies are like internet bumper bowling; moments of personal foolishness with no consequence beyond a bit of embarrassment.

But like the proverbial Krampus at the door, they prepare us for the real monsters to come, profiting on our fear and bias. So practice your bullshit detector. And be kind to yourself and others when the bullshit detector fails.

here’s a breakdown on social media literacy suitable for young and old alike: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/social-media-five-key-concepts-stacey-goodman
Beyond what's covered in that website, also try to remember:

WHO’S TALKING? Who runs the website? Do they back up their authority on a subject?
HOW DO THEY KNOW? Is the website giving you a place to go to see the source of the information?

IS THE STORY PROPAGATED? While not foolproof, major outlets will carry well sourced stories. Check to see if any local or international news outlets (Reuters, BBC, Snopes) are carrying the story.

ARE FACTS BEING LEFT OUT? Do other stories about this same topic seem to be citing more information than what is presented? Is the information in context?

IS IT TO GOOD TO BE TRUE? If a miracle cure can be found in something you can grow in the garden, or a decades old show is coming back, or if Andy Kaufman is alive and was Elvis the whole time, be wary.

IS THE STORY MAKING ME ANGRY? Clicks are cash in the online world, and websites have found nothing generates clicks faster than appealing to people's lizard brain.

Avoid the impulse to read about the bad behavior of others, or the righteousness of those you agree with. Often these stores are years old recycled slop, or hyped up to get you mad enough to share. Ignore internet Gaston, he’s a shitheel.

PRACTICE SOME LOW KEY SKEPTICISM! And no, that doesn’t mean considering every possible arguement or conspiracy theory. It means just taking a moment to think, and double check yourself.

Finally, remember: Don't feel ashamed. You’re going to get fooled once in a while no matter what. These practices will just make it rarer.
Happy national snake oil day y‘all. ~T