SACRAMENTO (KABC) -- Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) introduced a bill to educate students on the difference between legitimate and fake news.
The bill, AB 155, would have an educational commission develop a curriculum for students to learn how to spot fake news stories.
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"Recently, we have seen the corrupting effects of a deliberate propaganda campaign driven by fake news," Gomez said. "When fake news is repeated, it becomes difficult for the public to discern what's real."
In a press release announcing the bill, Gomez cites a study done by Stanford's Graduate School of Education that shows many young people were unable to tell the difference between a legitimate story and a fake one, as well as being unable to notice hidden advertisements.
Gomez said the onslaught of fake news and the lack of ability for people to notice it poses a "direct threat to democracy."
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Fake news became a major issue during the presidential campaign, with many false stories being shared widely on social media.
In one incident, a Washington D.C. pizzeria was said to have been used to harbor child sex slaves for Democrats and Hillary Clinton. A gunman "investigating" the restaurant opened fire inside with an assault weapon. No one was injured, and the man was arrested.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Students sit and study in a classroom in a file photo. (KABC)