What is Media Literacy?
Media literacy is essentially the ability to access, analyse and evaluate media in all its forms.
In simpler terms, it means you can:
- Access media: Know how to find and use different kinds of media, like news articles, social media posts, videos, and advertisements.
- Analyze and Evaluate media: Look closely at media messages and think critically about them. This involves asking key questions like:
- Who created this message and why? (Is it a news outlet, an advertiser, or an individual?)
- What techniques are they using to get my attention or convince me? (e.g., emotional language, dramatic music, visual effects)
- What values or points of view are being shown, and what is being left out?
- Is the information reliable and factual?
Think of it as having the critical thinking skills to navigate the huge amount of information and entertainment we see every day, so you can make informed decisions and be an active, educated citizen.
Useful Resources
Fact Checking
Staying Safe from Scams and Fraud