Media literacy is defined as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all of forms of communication — from print to video to the Internet.
Like reading or math, media literacy is an acquired skill. Proficiency in navigating our intricate and continually evolving media environment depends on the acquisition of abilities and resources necessary for discerning how to consume and assess information. It involves the capacity to pose critical interrogations, steer clear of manipulation, and participate in digital domains with assurance and safety.
Regrettably, these proficiencies are not currently part of the standard education for our youth...
While today's teenagers have grown up with social media, their ability to identify and protect themselves against manipulated videos of politicians or deceptive news articles on platforms like WhatsApp or TikTok is not guaranteed.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology in 2021 (https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12368) suggests that adolescence may be a vulnerable period for susceptibility to conspiracy theories, possibly due to the influence of social media on young people's perceptions of the world.
Finland, consistently ranking at the forefront of European surveys on misinformation resilience, serves as a global role model in the fight against fake news.
The country's innovative education system empowers students to discern falsehoods by critically analyzing news articles and TikTok videos.
Finland's exceptional advantages, including a robust public school system, free higher education, and a high level of trust in the government, contribute to its success.
Teachers in Finland enjoy the flexibility to design media literacy lessons, and recent global events, such as the Ukraine conflict, highlight the significance of countering propaganda.
Finland's commitment to combatting misinformation extends to libraries, where older generations also receive education.
This approach nurtures critical thinking skills and empowers individuals to form well-informed opinions.
An example to follow!
