According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2022-23, students ages 12 to 18 reported that rumors were the most common form of bullying they encountered. Rumors spread quickly within high schools for a variety of reasons. Whether they stem from actual malintent, or simply students’ attempts to fit in or get attention, their impacts remain the same. The spread of misinformation can directly lead to bullying, reduced focus on academics, broken trust, and increased struggles with mental health. Working to combat these risks, high schools have employed different strategies to dispel rumors and disseminate factual information, with varying levels of success.
The introduction of social media has in many ways given misinformation a platform, allowing false information to spread much more quickly and making it harder for schools to combat. The harsh rumors that were once confined to passed notes or hallway whispers can follow students home. It’s easier than ever to spread a rumor with a text or post, through apps like Instagram or Snapchat.
According to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study, inaccurate news is 70% more likely to be retweeted than real news on X — a popular social media platform formerly known as Twitter. MIT News attributes this, in part, to the emotional intensity of fake news; often, the more unlikely stories make for the most captivating reads. This larger phenomenon is directly reflected in high school gossip; unlikely rumors often spread the quickest.
Because misinformation online is common, it can be beneficial for viewers to think critically about the digital content they encounter. Franklin High School psychologist Jaimie Huck emphasizes the importance of assessing sources. She explains that “encouraging students … [to be] putting the pieces together and looking at sources … and finding the truth between [them]” can help students find unbiased information while understanding the differing perspectives on a subject.
Typically, high school English classes teach students how to properly conduct research and use credible sources. These skills can be applied throughout life and are useful in discerning whether online information can be trusted.
“When I research online, I check for trustworthiness by looking at the organization and author to make sure they’re credible. I also keep the tone of the site in mind, especially for news,” explains Franklin sophomore Marshall Furman. “I also try to keep bias in mind when looking at news because I value open-mindedness and understanding both perspectives.” Furman admits that, although he generally attempts to verify information, he doesn’t always fact-check information from Google’s AI Overview feature.
To support the community’s access to accurate information, Franklin staff utilize StudentSquare and ParentSquare — digital messaging platforms — to inform students and parents about district news, school news, fundraisers, and individual teachers’ classroom reminders. Administrative staff uses the Bolt, a weekly newsletter sent out to the Franklin community via email. The Bolt updates students, staff, and parents on relevant information, including school events and the latest from Franklin’s Principal, Dr. Zulema Naegele. Naegele prefers to use Trivory for student communication, acknowledging that students may not check the Bolt’s updates as frequently as adults. Trivory also allows students to check local bus times; online school resources; a staff directory; important school news; and the school day’s bell, club, and athletic schedule.
In the era of short-form, dopamine-boosting content, clubs and sports teams at Franklin often use Instagram and TikTok to reach students — you can even find the Franklin Post @thefranklinpost on Instagram. Because about 95% of teenagers report using social media, it’s one of the most reliable ways to reach students with information. The issue with this strategy is that it sometimes limits the ability of students without social media to access details about school events. Standardized platforms like email — accessible to all PPS students through school-issued Chromebooks — have been proposed as a more equitable alternative.
Students also utilize social media for independent events, like the popular “Senior Assassin” competition. Senior Assassin is run primarily through Instagram, where viewers can follow along as players attempt to eliminate their assigned targets. The game has many variations involving swimming goggles and pool floaties, but the essential rules remain the same across the country; players attempt to eliminate their assigned targets by spraying them with a water gun, while avoiding being sprayed themselves. This year, Franklin’s winner will receive a cash prize of approximately $500, accumulated from the entry fee charged to join the competition. This game has raised safety concerns among school staff because the water guns used for the game have the potential to be confused with real firearms. Because of this, the Franklin administration published a message on Trivory, stating, “Simulated guns & ‘Senior Assassin’ games are strictly prohibited on campus. Safety is our priority, & misunderstandings are too risky.”
Because technology use is so common among youth, schools have had to learn to address how students are using cell phones and Chromebooks during the school day. Franklin began utilizing Yondr pouches — magnetic locking pouches that hold cell phones during the school day — in August 2025. “I really do feel like the [Yondr] pouches have made a really big difference,” states Naegele. “I’ve actually seen a decrease [in rumors and misinformation] because of the Yondr pouches.”
When students have ready and consistent access to phones and social media, it can be easy to inadvertently spread misinformation even with good intentions. For example, a student spotting an ambulance on campus may want to message friends or post on social media to alert the community and seek more information. However, the rapid spread of incomplete information can lead to assumptions and rumors that may impede the work of first responders and cause unnecessary panic.
With the Trump administration’s increased deployment of law enforcement to target immigrants, organizations like the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition highlight the importance of only spreading verified information, warning community members that re-sharing information that they haven’t verified can lead to the spread of “rumors and old news,” which “contributes to fear in the community and can impede rapid response efforts for actual [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] activity.”
If an unidentified law enforcement officer were to be spotted near Franklin, and rumors spread that ICE is on campus, this could sow intense fear among members of the Franklin community. The downside of limiting phone and social media access in schools is that it may lead students to fear that they won’t be promptly notified of potential emergencies like this. The upside is that, if school administration is aware and proactive, students and community members should receive accurate and up to date information without panic-inspiring rumors that could threaten safety even more running rampant online.
This balance applies on an international scale as well. News of global events spreads quickly on social media, especially negative events. In early April, there was an outbreak of Andes Virus — a strain of hantavirus — on a cruise ship that departed from Argentina, destined for Spain. Recently, videos speculating about hantavirus have been circulating online, with some warning of the imminence of another global pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) put out a post on Instagram explaining to the public what they should know about this virus, specifically how it is contracted, symptoms, and prevention methods. On May 7, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus clarified that there have been three deaths and five confirmed cases of this virus, as well as three suspected cases of the virus. The public health risk has been assessed as low. In situations involving health crises, there is a large opportunity for misinformation to spread, and getting information from reputable healthcare professionals is valuable.
If social media viewers and students aren’t verifying information, misinformation can easily spread. This can result in harmful rumors. From global events to high school rumors between friend groups, damage can be done when sources and credibility are not evaluated.
