What makes an individual literate in media and information? Media and information literacy is the ability to critically access, analyze, evaluate, and communicate information. In today’s digital era, media, and information literacy is increasingly important because we are faced with many easily accessible sources of information, including fake news or hoaxes that can cause confusion and even harm. However, by increasing our media and information literacy, we can filter correct and quality information from what is not.
1. Read trusted sources of information
The first thing that can increase media and information literacy is to choose a trusted source of information. This includes news sources that have been proven to be credible and widely recognized.
2. Check the correctness of information before distributing it
Before sharing information on social media or other online platforms, it is important to check its veracity. This can be done by checking the facts on several reliable sources and seeing if the information is spread by a reliable source.
3. Follow quality social media accounts
One way to improve media and information literacy is to follow quality social media accounts. These can be social media accounts from trusted news sources or accounts that post relevant and quality content.
4. Avoid hoax news and fake news
We also have to be careful of hoax news and fake news circulating on the internet. Usually, this hoax news has an attention-grabbing title and information that is too sensational.
5. Recognize the factors that cause bias in the media
Factors that cause bias in the media can come from many things, such as a person’s ideological background, sources of media funding, or pressure from the government. By recognizing these factors, we can better understand the information we receive.
6. Learn information verification methods
The information verification method is a technique to check the correctness of the information. We can study these techniques to help verify the information we receive.
7. Discuss with others about the information obtained
Discussing the information obtained with others can help us understand the information better. Apart from that, this discussion can also help filter out inaccurate or hoax information.
8. Implement a privacy policy in the use of social media
We must also pay attention to privacy policies in the use of social media. This can be done by checking the privacy settings on our social media accounts.
9. Maintain the confidentiality of personal information
We must pay attention to the confidentiality of our personal information so that we are not exposed to phishing or data theft. We can protect ourselves by not sharing personal information carelessly and strengthening account security with strong passwords.
10. Respect freedom of the press and copyright
We must understand the importance of press freedom and copyright. We must respect these rights and ensure that we do not infringe copyright or other rights when using information circulating in the media.
11. Understand the impact of technology on media and information
Technology is constantly evolving and can have an impact on the media and information we receive. By understanding the impact of this technology, we can prepare ourselves and improve our media and information literacy.
12. Reading various types of media to broaden horizons
Reading different types of media can help us broaden our horizons and see different perspectives on a topic. We can get different points of view and make wiser decisions.
13. Sharpen critical skills in reading information
We must hone critical skills in reading information so that we can filter correct and quality information from what is not. Critical abilities can also help us understand different perspectives and evaluate arguments better.
14. Participate actively in the circulation of healthy information
We can actively participate in the circulation of healthy information by sharing accurate and quality information, and helping others filter out hoax information.
15. Maintain ethics in communicating on social media
Finally, we must always maintain ethics in communicating on social media. We must avoid posting content that is inappropriate or harmful to others, and ensure that we do not disseminate information that is untrue or hoax.
Improving our media and information literacy is important in today’s digital era. By following some of the tips mentioned above, we can filter correct and quality information from those that are not. By increasing our media and information literacy, we can also help build a more informed and open-minded society.