It’s always difficult to talk about pressing social issues in the classroom, especially as political polarization, disinformation, and extremism take over public conversations. Students often rely on social media, particularly YouTube and Tik Tok, to form their opinions on these topics, which is why educators should be aware of the range of discussions happening on these contentious topics. Even knowing how to talk about social functions of conspiracies or media practices, like news gathering and sourcing, can help diffuse difficult classroom situations. At this event, Joan Donovan will speak about her experiences teaching media manipulation, white supremacist extremism, and disinformation and provide some tips for addressing it.