PolitiFact – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

PolitiFact

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2010

58%

WISE Score

4.7

App Store

A fact-checking app that teaches media literacy through political truth ratings—earnest, educational, and about as exciting as C-SPAN.

PolitiFact

app

4+, 2010

58%

WISE Score

4.7

App Store

A fact-checking app that teaches media literacy through political truth ratings—earnest, educational, and about as exciting as C-SPAN.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

PolitiFact is a solid educational tool for teaching media literacy and critical thinking, but let's be honest—it's not going to compete with TikTok for your teen's attention. The app itself is over a decade old and likely clunky on modern devices, and the content is earnest, text-heavy political fact-checking that requires real cognitive effort.

For a politically-curious high schooler working on a debate project or a family that discusses current events at dinner, this could be genuinely useful. The quiz format adds a small gamification element, and learning to evaluate claims with the Truth-O-Meter framework is a valuable skill in our misinformation-saturated world.

But most kids? They're going to open it once, read two fact-checks, and never touch it again. This is vegetables, not dessert—nutritious but not delicious. If you've got a teen who's already interested in politics or journalism, great. Otherwise, this is more of a 'nice to have on the shelf' than a 'must-download.'

Age Fit

This is really for ages 14+ who have the political knowledge and reading comprehension to engage with policy claims and current events. Younger teens might use it with parent guidance, but most kids under 12 will find it incomprehensible or boring. Adults interested in fact-checking will get the most value.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The app delivers straightforward fact-checking content without sensationalism or toxic commentary. Political discourse can be polarizing, but PolitiFact's format focuses on verifiable claims rather than inflammatory opinion. The 'Pants on Fire' rating adds a touch of humor without crossing into mean-spirited territory. However, the nature of political fact-checking means exposure to contentious claims and policy debates that may not always model cooperation or kindness—it's inherently adversarial.

Imaginative

This is a utility app for consuming fact-checks and testing knowledge via quiz format. The 'PolitiFact Challenge' game that asks users to label statements and advance from Intern to Wonk shows some gamification creativity, but it's fundamentally about information retrieval and comprehension rather than creative expression, building, or open-ended exploration. It's educational but not particularly imaginative.

Safe

The app originally sold for 99 cents with no indication of ads, aggressive monetization, or privacy concerns in the available information. Content is text-based fact-checking without graphic imagery, violence, or inappropriate material. However, political content can include references to controversial topics, occasional profanity in quoted statements, and potentially distressing current events. The 'kids mode available' flag suggests some safety consideration, but no detailed moderation notes exist. It's reasonably safe for older users but not designed with child safety features.

Enriching

Strong educational value for developing critical thinking, media literacy, and understanding how to evaluate political claims. The Truth-O-Meter system teaches evidence-based reasoning, and the quiz format encourages active engagement rather than passive consumption. The Obameter campaign-promise tracker adds civic education. For teens and adults interested in current events, this builds genuine analytical skills. However, entertainment value is limited—it's earnest and informative rather than engaging or fun.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Builds critical thinking and media literacy skills by teaching how to evaluate political claims with evidence
The Truth-O-Meter and 'Pants on Fire' ratings make fact-checking more accessible and slightly fun
Quiz format (Intern to Wonk progression) gamifies learning about current events
No ads or manipulative monetization—just straightforward information
Can spark meaningful family conversations about how to spot misinformation

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What to Watch For

Political content requires maturity to understand nuance and context—definitely not for elementary schoolers
Exposure to controversial claims and current events that may be distressing or confusing for younger teens
App is over a decade old and may not function well on current iOS versions
Extremely dry presentation—most kids will find this boring unless they're already news junkies

Conversation Starters

"What's a claim you heard recently that you're not sure is true? How could we fact-check it?"
"Why do you think politicians sometimes stretch the truth or make misleading statements?"
"If you saw something on social media that sounded extreme, what steps would you take to verify it?"
"What's the difference between a fact and an opinion? Can you give me examples from something you watched today?"

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