Britannica
Sources used in this answer
- media literacy
- Misinformation and disinformation - The emerging role of AI and what we can do in response
- What is news literacy (and why does it matter)? - Developing habits to detect misinformation
- sources - Verification of Journalistic Sources
- media convergence - Technological convergence
- media convergence - Social media
- critical viewing
- sources - Digitalization and Journalistic Sources
- critical thinking
How can media literacy help people evaluate information shared online?
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media convergence
In addition to functioning as a cell phone, Apple's touchscreen iPhone, released in 2007, has a built-in Web browser for viewing Internet content over wireless telephone networks and Wi-Fi connections. The iPhone also can be used as a multimedia playback device for listening to music or viewing videos.
Media literacy empowers individuals to navigate the digital landscape by applying critical thinking to analyze, evaluate, and deconstruct media messages. In an era of media convergence, where content is easily produced and shared by anyone, these skills are essential for identifying misinformation and disinformation.123
To evaluate information shared online, media literacy encourages the following practices:
- Recognize Construction: Understand that all mediaâincluding social media posts and news clipsâare constructed by actors with specific social, political, or economic motives.1
- Verify Sources: When encountering information presented as fact, pause to check the authorâs credibility and existence. Consult multiple reputable news sources to see if they are reporting the same information.45
- Identify Patterns: Learn to anticipate common techniques used to deceive, such as false context, imposter content, and manipulated content (including AI-generated deepfakes).15
- Avoid Amplification: Do not share or engage with suspicious content, even to debunk it, as this often helps spread the misinformation further.4
- Practice Critical Viewing: Question the reliability of sources and remain skeptical of content that triggers strong emotional reactions, which can override rational thinking.56
Developing these habits helps individuals distinguish between authentic information and fabricated or misleading content.5