A few weeks ago, I was asked to talk to an eighth-grade health class about food and nutrition.  During the school day, there were five periods of eighth grade health; each class contained about 25 students.  I have worked with this age group before and was well aware of the diverse reactions I would encounter among typical 13 and 14 year olds.  I knew that some would be very much interested in the topic, some would be defensive and defiant, others rude, and some just ''too cool'' to comment.  But off I went, with my plastic food models, portion plates and sugar test tubes.
 
However, the reactions I experienced throughout the day were not what I expected. To make my point, here are just a few examples. (Trust me; the full list is much longer.)

• A girl told me that she refuses to eat canned fruits and vegetables because there are also bugs in the can.
   
• A young boy emphatically informed me that Red Bull energy drink is made with bull sperm. (''Why do you think the word ''bull'' is in the name?'')
   
• After I explained that diet pop is fine to drink in moderation, one teen said, ''I can’t believe you are telling me it is OK to drink diet pop. Don't you know that it erodes the muscles off your bone?''
   
• Another child graphically described to me what happens when you consume meat. (''Your body cannot digest meat, and it rots in your stomach.'')

 
Time and time again, I would ask, ''Where did you hear that?''  The response was always similar: ''I read it on the internet,'' or ''My dad read it on the internet,'' or ''My aunt read it on the internet.'' Get the picture? 
 
I took a step back and asked them, ''Have you ever heard of the scientific method?''  They responded that yes, they had studied it in science class.  I asked which study would be more reliable: 

• A study on rats or a study on people?
• A study on 5 people or a study on 5,000 people?
• A study lasting 5 days or a study lasting 5 years?

They answered each question correctly.  However, as I took the next step and suggested that not everything found on the internet is accurate, reliable or based on research, I was immediately trashed.  How could I even suggest that their trusted friend, the internet, would provide anything but the most accurate information?
 
While I found the day to be exhausting and somewhat disturbing, I also know that I need these kids. This is ''Generation Z,'' the multitasking generation, the technology-centered generation, the connected generation. In the near future, I will be relying on this generation for my mode of transportation, living accommodations, form of communication, access to information, and health care in my 70s and 80s.  Scary thought, isn’t it? While these kids are so savvy at technology today, I can only pray that they will be equally as savvy at understanding and applying the scientific method in the future. It's up to us to teach them how to identify reliable information now, so that they can help us later on.
 
So, how can we, as adults, assure that the information we find on the web is accurate and based on scientific research? And how can we help our children to be savvy users as well? To begin the process, check out these trusted sites for accurate health information and tips on reliable web searching:

Do you get frustrated with the accuracy of information on the internet? What is life like with your Generation Z-ers?