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Have you been misled by misinformation on the internet? Today, the average person is expected to spend more than 7 hours a day consuming the internet to accept different kinds of messages. But how many of these messages can we surely trust? In the era of fast media fastly development, a large amount of misinformation is spreading much faster than the truth. Still, people in most of the callings can not work without the Internet in today’s society. As a result, having the ability to think critically about information is highly relative to everyone’s daily life and it is becoming more and more important than before. In my perspective, media literacy is one of the most important abilities for modern people, and cultivating media literacy in school can help a lot. Thus, developing critical thinking skills has become more essential than ever. To better understand why media literacy is essential, it is crucial to first distinguish it from digital literacy. While both are related to navigating the digital world, they serve different purposes and require distinct skill sets.
Before exploring how to cultivate critical thinking, we have to understand the difference between digital literacy and media literacy. Digital literacy means the basic ability to use digital technologies like computers to communicate and look up information. With the improvement of technology, more and more people have learned to use electronic devices. However, most of them lack the ability of media literacy which means precisely get what they want from the internet. On the other hand, they are easy to be misled by the fake information on the internet. This distinction highlights the critical role of media literacy, the ability to analyze and interpret media content which has become an important skill in today’s society. The key skills of media literacy the article "Media literacy and digital literacy: The required skills in the digital age” mentions are analyzing and evaluating media content, Identifying media bias, stereotypes, Understanding the impact of media on individuals and society and Creating responsible media content. These skills contribute to improving individuals’ critical thinking on information, preventing misinformation and fake news, and Encouraging ethical media production. How did you fact-check before?” As people’s demands for misinformation prevention increased, the SIFT emerged to provide a convenient and quick way for individuals to distinguish between believable messages and fake like the article “ Don’t Go Down the Rabbit Hole” by Charlie Warzel mentions, he also claims that SIFT contains of four simple steps which are
1. Stop.
2. Investigate the source.
3. Find better coverage.
4. Trace claims, quotes and media to the original context.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD7N-1Mj-DU
Warzel points out that SIFT was designed to quickly check information to help individuals save their limiting attention on false information. Warzerl also gives us an example of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known anti-vaccine activist. He posted a misleading claim on Instagram and falsely connected the HPV vaccine and cancer. This kind of misinformation is harmful to society and might have serious consequences for public health. However, using SIFT to determine it, an individual can check Kennedy’s claim in less than a minute due to there being a large amount of better articles from believable sources on Google confirming that his perspective is wrong. As the example shows, SIFT is an effective way for individuals to have a quick check on the information they get. Moreover, it also reveals that the lack of media literacy could cause fearful consequences. By applying SIFT, individuals can quickly determine the reliability of an information source, reducing the risk of falling for misinformation. However, individual efforts are not enough to fight the spread of misinformation and this underscores the urgent need to incorporate media literacy education into formal curricula.”
To enhance people's media literacy, the cultivation of media education is necessary. This is because students today can not only gain knowledge from school, they have to learn with the resources on the internet. If they are misled by some false information, they will not able to constrct a correct knowledge system. Therefore, setting up courses about media literacy is significant for the growth of students and helping them avoid the trash messages on the internet. Furthermore, media education can also Promote Democratic Values and Enhance Social Trust due to people will be more willing to trust the information from reputed institutions. In the article” Fighting Disinformation Can Feel Like a Lost Cause. It Isn’t.” by Jay Caspian Kang, Kang claims that focusing on improving the public’s critical thinking is more useful than regulating all the posts on the internet. Kang further supports this argument by presenting several examples. In Finland and Estonia, the government provides media literacy courses in elementary school and high school but the U.S. does not. As a result, Finland has a higher Media Literacy Index than the U.S., and its citizens are less susceptible to misinformation online. Estonia, although they have a lower GDP than other countries, their students have better skills in investigating the sources of information than other developed countries. Through these examples, Kang suggests that media education has a significant influence in cultivating the average citizen’s ability to prevent misinformation on the internet. Also, educators play a pivotal role in inspiring students to learn media critical thinking and help students navigate the digital information. According to the article "Digital Literacy and Media Education", teachers can enhance students’ media literacy skills by incorporating digital literacy and media education into their teaching model. The author emphasizes that teachers should not only teach students how to evaluate the information online but also cultivate students' responsibility for posting positive and believable content. Furthermore, introducing some digital tools to students can help students can help them have a better understanding of the media and shape their media literacy. If media education has proven to be so effective in countries like Finland and Estonia, why shouldn’t more nations prioritize it in their curricula?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTGyQrVQToU
Based on these findings, it is evident that improving media literacy is not merely a personal skill but a broader societal imperative. In today’s digital world, media literacy is becoming one of the most important skills for individuals no matter their jobs or identities. This article has explored the difference between digital literacy and media literacy and the necessity of having the ability of critical thinking and media literacy when evaluating information online. Moreover, to pave the road to increasing the average person’s media literacy, having media education is indispensable. Students who have trained in media education always have greater skills in preventing misinformation and evaluating online messages. Educators play a key role in teaching media literacy, integrating media tools to help students verify sources and recognize biases. Successful models in Finland and Estonia show that early exposure to media education strengthens critical thinking and reduces misinformation’s impacts. Beyond the classroom, the task of promoting media literacy falls on everyone—individuals, educators, and policymakers. In a world where misinformation spreads at an alarming rate, having strong media literacy skills is essential to build a more informed and positive society. By making media education a priority, we equip people with the ability to think critically, engage responsibly, and confidently navigate the complexities of the digital world. The responsibility does not fall on educators alone every individual has a role to play. The next time you come across a shocking news headline, pause and consider: Who is the author? What is the source? Have I examined multiple perspectives? These small yet essential habits can contribute to a more informed and critically aware society. Will you take the first step?
Casian Kang, Jay. Fighting Disinformation Can Feel Like a Lost Cause. It Isn’t. Notion, https://www.notion.so/Fighting-Disinformation-Can-Feel-Like-a-Lost-Cause-It-1a8f257e8c0d807ea047e4028f12f0a9?pvs=21.
"Digital Literacy and Media Education." The Education Daily, https://theeducationdaily.com/digital-literacy-and-media-education/.