Media literacy helps us comprehend and analyze the large amount of information we are faced with on a daily basis. In today’s digital world, information is everywhere, and not all of it is true, helpful, or safe. From news stories to social media posts, from YouTube videos to forwarded emails, we’re bombarded with messages that try to inform us, sell to us, or influence us. That’s why media literacy is more important than ever. Media literacy allows you to evaluate the credibility of sources, understand when information is biased, and helps to identify fake news. As technology advances, so do the methods of spreading misinformation and disinformation. We are in the age of information, where information spreads faster than ever before in human history. This makes media literacy integral for staying away from false information.
Media literacy allows for people to recognize the intentions behind different pieces of information. How framing, language, and imagery influence people’s interpretation of information. It also allows for you to critically think instead of passively taking in information, resulting in asking questions such as why was this message created? Who created this message? Do other sources agree with what is being presented?
By being media literate, you can avoid falling victim to a variety of scams, including clickbait, deepfakes, phishing emails and phone calls. These scams can lead to financial loss, or even dangerous decisions. You can also understand why you are being shown specific content according to different algorithms on different platforms. Since anyone can post anything on social platforms, the information shown tends to not be credible. The platforms don’t force users to show any sources for their information, they just get to post it. Some sites or media promote anti-medical messages, conspiracy theories, and even dangerous remedies.
According to the FBI’s 2022 Internet Crime Report, Americans lost over $3 billion to Internet scams. The scams often arrived through emails pretending to be from the IRS or banks, phone calls from false tech support, pyramid schemes disguised as news articles, and phony health products that promise miracles. The scammers use emotional manipulation and media techniques to fool the target. You will be able to read more in-depth on the tactics scammers use for each type of scam on other pages.
While it is critical to understand media literacy under all types of government, it is especially important to have media literacy skills under a democratic government, where all of the prior points can influence how people vote in elections. Media platforms can be biased, which makes the ability to spot disinformation a key factor in the integrity of democratic elections.
By being media literate, you can more easily stay in touch with family, join a variety of online communities, and be informed when participating in discussions. It allows you to build confidence in using technology and helps you actively engage in society, which is why we created this website.