Scrolling through social media feels like riding a rollercoaster—one minute you’re watching a puppy do cartwheels, the next you’re knee-deep in a heated debate about something that may or may not be true. Welcome to the digital age, where information comes fast, loud, and often unchecked. That’s why media literacy isn’t just a nice-to-have skill anymore—it’s essential for survival in a world overflowing with content.
Media literacy is evaluating what you see, read, and hear critically. According to Common Sense Media, it helps people recognise bias, separate fact from opinion, and resist the pull of misinformation. It’s the difference between falling for a deepfake video and asking, “Wait, is this even real?”
Take the 2020 “Plandemic” video as an example. It went viral with millions of views before being debunked by several reputable sources, including Reuters and Healthline. Still, many people believed it—because it was well-produced, emotionally charged, and shared by people they trusted. Media literacy acts as your internal lie detector, prompting you to ask, “Who made this? What’s the agenda? Where’s the evidence?”
In journalism class, we were taught that media literacy is not just about spotting fake news, either. It’s about understanding the influence of algorithms, how advertising is embedded in entertainment, and why viral content is designed to provoke emotion. According to Pew Research Centre, nearly half of U.S. adults get their news from social media, a platform where accuracy isn’t always the goal—engagement is.
So next time a headline seems too shocking to be true, pause. Dig a little deeper. The truth is still out there—it just takes sharper eyes and a curious mind to find it. Media literacy is your modern-day superpower, helping you scroll smarter and live wiser.
Also see: Child Protection Week: Teaching kids self defence against strangers
