n today’s information environment, even factual information can mislead. This supposed paradox is a top threat to society that media literacy aims to explain and address. But these efforts are often overlooked. Why?
Most people get their news from a variety of mainstream sources, which—by merit of being subject to FCC standards—are almost always factually accurate. When these outlets mislead, it’s not through blatant lies but through the subtle omission of crucial details, the deceptive arrangement of facts, or a clip taken out of context.
Here’s the issue, though: The most visible media literacy tools focus on fact–checking, rather than overcoming bias or navigating information overload. It’s understandable why this is the case. Fact–checking is straightforward: Something is verifiably true, or it’s not. However, when the average person sees these tools, it can create the impression that media literacy is meant for only those who consume lies—a small group hooked on fringe media. This misunderstanding is the perfect recipe to make people feel immune to deception and above media literacy.
In reality, everyone can benefit from media literacy. It’s no secret that the internet is a mess: It’s disorganized, fragmented, and attention–seeking—blurring the lines between entertainment and news and driven by algorithms that prioritize engagement over accuracy or importance.
To get people to accept media literacy, society needs tools that speak to the realities people face every day. The following list includes various skills that tap into the reality of mainstream news consumption. They’re ripe for media literacy to pursue:
- Give attention to what matters: allocate time based on a topic’s actual importance, not just its visibility or entertainment value.
- Build a comprehensive media diet: assemble sources strategically so that they cover a broad spectrum of topics reflecting multiple viewpoints.
- Know when stories are incomplete: learn the signs of a story that is trying to mislead, even when presenting information that is technically true.
- Be aware of the unknown unknowns: foster awareness that sometimes, there may be unknown yet potentially crucial information that hasn’t been revealed yet.
- Balance speed vs. accuracy: know how to consume information efficiently and get the right information without spending all day reading the news.
a global affairs media network
How to get people hooked on media literacy
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
September 9, 2024
In today’s information environment, even factual information can mislead. It’s a major threat to society, and is one that media literacy is intended to explain and address—but these efforts are often overlooked, writes Tom Plant.
I
n today’s information environment, even factual information can mislead. This supposed paradox is a top threat to society that media literacy aims to explain and address. But these efforts are often overlooked. Why?
Most people get their news from a variety of mainstream sources, which—by merit of being subject to FCC standards—are almost always factually accurate. When these outlets mislead, it’s not through blatant lies but through the subtle omission of crucial details, the deceptive arrangement of facts, or a clip taken out of context.
Here’s the issue, though: The most visible media literacy tools focus on fact–checking, rather than overcoming bias or navigating information overload. It’s understandable why this is the case. Fact–checking is straightforward: Something is verifiably true, or it’s not. However, when the average person sees these tools, it can create the impression that media literacy is meant for only those who consume lies—a small group hooked on fringe media. This misunderstanding is the perfect recipe to make people feel immune to deception and above media literacy.
In reality, everyone can benefit from media literacy. It’s no secret that the internet is a mess: It’s disorganized, fragmented, and attention–seeking—blurring the lines between entertainment and news and driven by algorithms that prioritize engagement over accuracy or importance.
To get people to accept media literacy, society needs tools that speak to the realities people face every day. The following list includes various skills that tap into the reality of mainstream news consumption. They’re ripe for media literacy to pursue:
- Give attention to what matters: allocate time based on a topic’s actual importance, not just its visibility or entertainment value.
- Build a comprehensive media diet: assemble sources strategically so that they cover a broad spectrum of topics reflecting multiple viewpoints.
- Know when stories are incomplete: learn the signs of a story that is trying to mislead, even when presenting information that is technically true.
- Be aware of the unknown unknowns: foster awareness that sometimes, there may be unknown yet potentially crucial information that hasn’t been revealed yet.
- Balance speed vs. accuracy: know how to consume information efficiently and get the right information without spending all day reading the news.
