Even as information and knowledge are being produced daily in various ways, information disorders continue to pose a significant challenge to people if not tackled swiftly. One of the crucial ways of mitigating the effect of information disorder is the adoption of Media and Information Literacy (MIL). MIL equips individuals with the knowledge needed to fact-check information before consuming it. The ability to raise counter-awareness regarding fake news depends on how informed people are; therefore, MIL will serve as an enabler in minimising the adverse effects of mis/disinformation. It focuses on consumers of information, enabling them to make informed decisions on information pertinent to them without falling prey. Brooke Becker, a media literacy expert, stated that media literacy helps people become critical thinkers by empowering them with skills that allow them to make good decisions in all their life endeavours.
Simply put, MIL refers to the ability to inform content consumers of the intricacies of the information they consume. MIL raises people’s awareness of the threats that can emanate from mis-, dis- and malinformation. According to UNESCO, it allows people to engage with information while navigating an online environment with safety precautions in mind and also enhances people’s skills in addressing the issue of mis/disinformation.
One of the strategies to enhance the negative effect of misinformation is the need for an information literacy campaign. Through a literacy campaign, people become sensitised on the needed information to prevent them from falling prey to misinformation. For instance, digitally literate people will verify any information they find online. Media literacy allows people to be more creative in engaging with the offline and online world. Improving media literacy levels will create resilience in people to counter misinformation.
The Role of MIL in Combating Misinformation
Media and information literacy can help in combating misinformation in the following ways;
- Promote digital literacy: Digital literacy involves the ability to navigate technology safely, efficiently, and responsibly. Media and information literacy help to improve the way people relate to digital information and also enhance their understanding of digital technologies. Digital literacy is crucial for addressing and combating information pollution. When people are enlightened on the rudiments of digital literacy, it will facilitate their technical knowledge and prevent them from falling prey to disinformation.
- Improves fact-checking: As of February 2025, approximately 67.9% of the world’s population is connected to the internet. This widened the gap between people’s ability to encounter misinformation. With this, analysing information to know the genuineness is crucial. The introduction of MIL allows people to cross-check all forms of information before sharing it with others. Fact checking is an integral factor that enhances the detection of misinformation. Media and Information Literacy inform people to fact check the sources and authenticity of the information they consume.
- Enhance critical thinking skills: Critical thinking is defined as “the ability to examine and analyze information and ideas to understand and evaluate their values and assumptions, rather than accepting propositions at face value” (UNESCO, 2011, p. 182).
MIL allows people to become critical thinkers and question the sources of information they consume. It helps people to become more discerning about information. Critical thinking is an essential skill for everyone, enabling media users to critically analyze and evaluate both online and offline content. It empowers individuals to conduct independent investigations of texts, images, videos, audio, and all forms of visual material. When introducing MIL, critical thinking skill is a cogent skill that must be instilled in people. Critical Thinking skill helps to think critically before sharing information.
- Restore public confidence: Media and Information Literacy will equip people with the right knowledge, which will restore the trust people have in the media. There have been cases where misinformation fuels conflict. For instance, the British Broadcasting Corporation shared in a report published in 2018 that fake news on social media fuels the farmers- herders crisis in Nigeria. BBC stated that the circulating fake pictures that depict inter-communal violence are creating high tension in Nigeria, but a fact check revealed that the picture first appeared on the internet in 2011 in a domestic violence story. Meanwhile, several years later, the picture emerged online as an image depicting the farmers- herders crisis. The introduction of MIL it will promote civic engagement and build public trust, which will result in a sanity of misinformation
Methods of Media Literacy Programs
The essence of media and information literacy is to equip people with the right skills needed to verify the source of information they consume. Also, it allows people to distinguish between right and false information. The spread of wrong information can influence public opinion, thereby harming them.
- Training: Building the capacity of people through training and workshops on how to discover and differentiate between all kinds of information disorder such as misinformation, disinformation and malinformation.
- Advocacy: Raising campaigns both online and offline to fight against misinformation is another method that can be used to guide against the susceptibility of people to misinformation. For instance, Dubawa, an initiative of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, has a week-long campaign tagged #Week For Truth, which is meant to inform people on media and information literacy, critical thinking and basic fact-checking.
- Multimedia: Multimedia can be an effective method for delivering Media and Information Literacy (MIL) programs by engaging diverse audiences through interactive and dynamic content. For instance, tools such as Video content, infographics and Visual Aids, E- e-learning Platforms, Podcasts and Audio content, Social Media campaigns, Augmented and Virtual Reality, TV, Radio, and podcasts are various ways that can be used to teach people about media and information literacy.
- Innovation Challenge: Innovative Challenge through cutting-edge ideas that can lead to creating innovative solutions to tackle misinformation and can improve the implementation of media and information literacy. Organizing an innovative challenge, such as a hackathon, can lead to creative and effective ways of delivering Media and Information Literacy (MIL) programs. A MIL hackathon provides a platform for young people, tech experts, and media professionals to collaborate and develop innovative solutions for promoting media literacy, thereby combating misinformation and fostering responsible digital engagement.
- Inclusion in School Curriculum: Including topics on media and information literacy in the school curriculum can enhance the skills of students towards addressing misinformation. For example, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) supports the development of media and information literacy to ensure that people engage with the right information. One of their initiatives is the creation of a designed media and information literacy curriculum for teachers to enhance their delivery of media and literacy education.
The Significance of Media and Information Literacy
Media and information literacy (MIL) is critical in combating the pervasive challenge of misinformation. By equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills to fact-check information, think critically, and navigate digital platforms responsibly, MIL empowers people to make informed decisions and resist the spread of false information, from promoting digital literacy to enhancing public awareness through campaigns and training. Embracing MIL at all levels of society will foster resilience against information disorder, restore public confidence, and ensure a more informed and empowered populace. It also allows individuals to evaluate the credibility of information.
