What is media and information literacy?

Media and information literacy is the ability to find, understand, verify and create news, images, social posts and other messages critically.

How to examine a claim

First separate a claim from its source. Check the publication date, links to evidence, whether other reliable sources corroborate it and whether an image comes from an older context. A headline is not the whole story; emotionally charged framing deserves particular care. Distinguishing opinion from fact does not mean that every opinion has equal evidential weight. Understanding which content algorithms promote is also part of the skill.

Responsible sharing

Students can practise checking a story together and show their sources openly. Avoiding disclosure of others’ private data and respecting copyright and personal rights matters. Pausing to verify doubtful material before sharing helps reduce misinformation. UNESCO links media and information literacy to informed participation and critical thinking.