Common Sense Media Review
By Sabrina McFarland
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Media literacy docu takes a swipe at digital misinformation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Trust Me
What's the Story?
TRUST ME is a documentary that explores with its expert contributors the timely topics of misinformation and the importance of media literacy in the digital age. Director Roko Belic's film notes that more than one billion people seek news and information on the internet daily. The movie also asserts that online misinformation tends to spread faster than true information.
Is It Any Good?
Documentarian Belic presents a powerful picture about the escalating use of digital misinformation and need for media literacy. The movie mentions that misinformation spreads surprisingly at a quicker speed than true information. Tech insiders proclaim that platforms aren't designed to offer readers reliable information, but help create an addiction among its users who then seek more. The film also addresses the issue of divisive narratives that are giving rise to an "us against them" culture, says Maria Ressa, Co-Founder & CEO of the news website Rappler. "The world is getting pushed and pulled apart, and yet people don't know they're being manipulated." Belic hopes that the film "will stimulate public debate so we can fix these problems." Impressively, Trust Me lives up to that task for viewers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about digital misinformation and the role of media literacy in Trust Me. What is media literacy and its possible impact on misinformation? What are the consequences of misinformation?
What amount of teamwork may be involved in writing a news story? What steps are involved in fact checking it? What may be reputable resources to determine if a story is real or fake?
In what ways do social media sites hook their users? How may time spent on platforms affect communication with others? Compassion for others?
What is native advertising? What are the distinct differences between internet ads that look like legitimate stories versus actual ones?
How do the graphic images and language help or hurt the movie's message? What does the director's choice of title convey to viewers?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 16, 2021
- Cast : Michelle Ciulla Lipkin , Aaron Sharockman , James Steyer
- Director : Roko Belic
- Studio : New Day Films
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism , STEM
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Teamwork
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate