A student’s guide to navigating falsehoods: media literacy in practice

Technological globalisation describes the interconnectedness of online communities worldwide and facilitates the ease of access to information wherever and whenever we need it.

Access to information is especially significant for students who rely on the internet’s vast bank of sources for their assignments. However, the internet’s sheer volume of different perspectives and opinions reveals a glaring disadvantage – not just the struggle to track down a specific source buried on the third page of Google Scholar – but the pervasive blurring of the boundary between fact and fiction. The media’s bombardment of falsehoods has become an intrinsic part of today’s media landscape, which has shifted to a ‘post-truth era’.

In the same way that we protect ourselves by wearing a seatbelt in a car or a helmet on a bicycle, we must also think about the practice of media literacy and critical thinking as a necessary safety measure

What is the ‘post-truth’ era?

Characterised by heightened anxiety and an intense focus on facts, the post-truth era has fostered a culture that gives precedence to emotion and beliefs rather than fact – a shift which has been facilitated by the fast-paced nature of modern media. This has led to the widespread dissemination of misinformation on social media, as well as the deliberate spread of disinformation, where reality is intentionally distorted to exploit public fears and deepen societal divides.

How do we prevent ourselves from getting swept up in the storm of relentless falsehoods? The answer can be found in two words, media and literacy. This article aims to equip you with the knowledge of what media literacy is, how to use it, and lists practical steps on how to combat the noise and zone into reality.

The importance of being media literate

In the same way that we protect ourselves by wearing a seatbelt in a car or a helmet on a bicycle, we must also think about the practice of media literacy and critical thinking as a necessary safety measure. Without it, we are left vulnerable to algorithmic echo chambers. Waleed Sami stresses this notion, arguing that misinformation can only be confronted with media literacy, as it enables us to recognise various media messages. Through recognition, such messaging is no longer shrouded in ambiguity and the influences of the effects on us can be received through a more nuanced lens.

As consumers of media, we play an active role in its construction and interpretation. When presented with new information, we decode its meanings. In 1973, cultural sociologist Stuart Hall posited that before messages are broadcast to a wider audience, they are “encoded” by the creator during production, using a host of pre-understood meanings, symbols, and definitions. Decoding is the process of interpreting a message and engaging with its intended meanings, whether they are explicitly stated or subtly embedded within the content. As a core aspect of media literacy, it is something we all practice to some extent. However, we must actively apply the principles of media literacy to combat the insurgence of fake news that has been on a strong rise in the present day.

The best thing to do when you come across a post that raises your emotions is to take a step back. Ask yourself: why do you feel so passionately about the issues presented within the post

Tip one: recognise how you are being led to feel

All media seeks to evoke an emotion when we engage with it. This is not always a malicious technique but rather an important part of how journalism and media can connect with audiences on a more interpersonal level. There are, however, moments when emotions can be used to sensationalise an inaccurate perspective, often termed as ‘rage bait’. It is easy to fall for rage bait, especially when the content is designed to frustrate you as the reader, though such content can be relatively simple to recognise.

The best thing to do when you come across a post that raises your emotions is to take a step back. Ask yourself: why do you feel so passionately about the issues presented within the post? By doing this, you evaluate your own opinions in relation to what you have read, engaging with the process of decoding. However, it is equally important to critically engage with information that aligns with your own perspectives. Doing so allows you to explore new viewpoints – whether you agree or disagree – ensuring that you remain an active, informed consumer rather than becoming complacent or stagnant in your views.

Tip two: verify and assess

A major issue with verification on social media platforms such as X is that a verification badge often signifies status and, to some extent, wealth rather than trustworthiness. This can make assessing the validity of information particularly complicated. Some verified accounts on X are labelled as ‘parody accounts,’ which helps distinguish satirical content. While these accounts are explicit in their intentions, others operate with more subtle or ambiguous motives.

When encountering new information online, especially breaking news about socio-political events, it is important to verify whether or not the source is reliable by checking whether it comes from a reputable news outlet. However, this can raise doubts about the validity of mainstream media and how much trust we can put in it to accurately relay information to its audience; this is where we assess. Undeniably, this step is the most subjective, as what seems like common sense to one person may appear completely irrational to another. In developing media literacy, you can move beyond exposure to a single perspective and engage with the complexities and nuances of our society.

It is important, therefore, to be aware of the structures that uphold our view of society, evaluating media not based on fear and emotion but on the very real circumstances of the world around us

Tip three: don’t be overly critical

A central theme of this article is the importance of engaging critically in online discourse. It is also true that being critical does not mean approaching everything with scepticism or negativity. Rather, it means refusing to accept information at face value and instead examining it thoughtfully and analytically.

danah boyd points out the snowball effect which results when operating under the assumption that all news is there to trick us, highlighting that media literacy is going to require a cultural change in how we make sense of information, who we trust, and how we understand our role as consumers of information. Boyd discusses how the practice of teaching media literacy often falls into the same rhetoric of the post-truth era – essentially committing to doing the very thing that it sets out to subvert. It is important, therefore, to be aware of the structures that uphold our view of society, evaluating media not based on fear and emotion but on the very real circumstances of the world around us.

What is the end goal?

Gaining media literacy is only the beginning of the fight against falsehoods. While it is good to have a rough idea of how to spot ‘dis-’ and ‘mis-’ information, making this distinction is not as simple as a binary ‘true’ and ‘false’ but reflects the plurality in which we live. To navigate falsehoods is to navigate different cultural contexts – a task which may seem more daunting when being presented with surges of inaccurate information. The key is to recognise your position as an active consumer of media, then you’re already ready for combat.