We are living in the age of “fake news” and “alternative facts”, straight up lying seems to be an accepted part of news and politics. Because of this, simply being able to tell exactly what is going on can be difficult. To be able to think critically is now a very important skill. Though what exactly is critical thinking? Critical thinking is when you are presented with a piece of information and engage with it independently [1] and actively to discern how accurate it is. Too often we are encouraged to be passive with news and information, it can seem sometimes that we are being told how to react, think, and feel by the media or other sources. This is avoided if you think critically. If you think critically you will be guided through life by your own observations [2] , knowledge, and experience, and not be led. 5 Traits of skilled critical thinkers But what exactly are the benefits? Surely it can’t just come down to being able to watch the news objectively? Well, that’s true, the