MEDIA LITERACY AND DIGITAL MISINFORMATION: A STUDY OF YOUTH IN DELHI

Prachi Adhikari; Sidharth Verma; Surbhi Tandon; Durgesh Tripathi

doi:10.29121/naq7fr95

Authors

Prachi Adhikari Postgraduate Student, University School of Mass Communication, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8751-9237
Sidharth Verma Centre of Excellence in Disaster Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2261-4084
Dr. Surbhi Tandon Assistant Professor, Vivekananda School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS-TC), Delhi, India Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1074-8333
Dr.Durgesh Tripathi Dean and Professor, University School of Mass Communication, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5740-9665

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/naq7fr95

Keywords:

Media Literacy, Misinformation, Youth, Social Media, Fake News

Abstract

The present research examines the level of media literacy among Delhi's youth and the types of digital media that expose them to disinformation. The research entailed the integration of a structured survey, media literacy assessment test, and semi-structured interviews with media literacy experts. While the quantitative data were obtained from 185 youth respondents aged between 15 and 29 and analysed using descriptive statistics, the qualitative data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results reveal that the majority of the respondents had media literacy skills, but they were at their highest when the respondent’s identified misinformation and analysed information shared on the digital media. However, the study found a gap in the knowledge of media literacy (the theory) and media literacy skills (practice). Most of the respondents used their instincts or familiarity with the contents of the digital media. The highest rates of exposure to misinformation were in digital media such as WhatsApp and Instagram as well as in misinformation concerning health, politics, etc. More than 50 per cent of the respondents had shared some kind of false information but were unaware of it, at least once in their lives. The interviews with experts helped identify issues related to algorithm-driven content, lack of verification and the lack of media literacy framework. Media literacy improvement among youth and incorporating media literacy in education was the purpose of this research.

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