At a time when people are finding it difficult to distinguish what is true and what is not from an avalanche of information on the Internet, there is a greater need to possess the fundamentals of media literacy.
Being media literate means having the ability to navigate the media landscape – accessing, analysing, evaluating, creating and acting on different forms of mediums.
They include television, radio, newspapers, magazines, music, video games, social media, advertising, text messages, memes, viral videos and many more. In today’s environment, we are constantly surrounded by media – and we tend to consume them passively.
Media literacy has a history that dates back long before the Internet and has adapted and changed all the time.
Before the birth of mass media, where only the rich or fortunate ones had access to materials for reading and writing, questions on media literacy concerned who was literate, what information could be gained and how it could be obtained.
With the emergence of printed media beginning the late 15th century, recordings from the late 19th century, cinema, radio, television and the Internet in the 20th century, and mobile phones at the start of the 21st century, the focus shifted to analysing and evaluating this overwhelming amount of media.
In other words, for as long as there is a new type of media technology, discussions and fears over its effect on people are bound to take place, making media literacy a perpetually evolving subject.
What is common among all these media is that they are created by various kinds of people or groups for a wide range of purposes.
With media literacy skills, one will be able to comprehend the message behind the media – the credibility and intent of the creators, as well as how different media platforms can impact our lives.
Part of media literacy is digital literacy – a set of skills needed to use digital media, such as knowing how to access the Internet, how to use social media carefully and how to avoid becoming addicted to mobile devices.
Another, and especially important one in the age of ‘fake news’, is news literacy. It comprises a set of skills that can help navigate news media, including identifying reliable information, sharing news responsibly, and avoiding the ‘filter bubble’ of similar-minded individuals.
These literacies and media literacy as a whole are necessary to have among children and adults for many reasons. Some of which, according to American non-profit organisation Common Sense Media, include:
- Learning to think critically by asking the what, why, how, when, where and who of the messages behind the media, using examples to support opinions, and determining their own perspective about the information based on the knowledge obtained.
- Becoming a smart consumer of products and information by knowing the credibility of a product or service, the ‘persuasive intent’ of an advertisement, and the techniques marketers use to sell products.
- Discerning and appreciating points of view of different media creators, which helps putting information into context.
- Creating media responsibly, taking account of what and how one wants to express his/her message, and how it can affect audiences.
- Identifying the role of media in one’s culture, from viral videos, memes and celebrity photos, media can shape one’s understanding of the world and even drive one to think or act in certain ways.
- Comprehending the creator’s goal, message and purpose; knowing the creator’s influence enables one to make informed decisions.
