5 Reasons Why is Media Literacy Important?

Anjali Raj Singh
24 Min Read

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Media Literacy is the expertise to acquire, examine, assess, and produce media in different formations. It includes acknowledgment to know how media information is established and how they design our perceptiveness, faith, and etiquette.

Media literacy artistry involves precariously investigating media matters, recognizing various types of media pieces of information and prejudices, and being aware of how media are highly impressed by budget, governmental and community factors.

Media Literacy also includes acknowledging the significance of media on every person and the whole society and being able to utilize media appropriately and authoritatively.  In today’s digital world media literacy is very essential than it was before ever as today’s audiences are overflooded with a lot of pieces of media messages from multiple platforms.

After you become media literate permits an individual to build authentic information decisions, involving media mindful way. Let’s get into the article to get to know why is media literacy important for the public discourse.

why is media literacy important
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1. Why is Media Literacy Important?

Media literacy is very important in today’s time as it permits the audience to explore the complicated media network, learn to know its impact on individuals’ lives, be a responsible citizen and enhance critical analysis skills. Media Literacy is highly recommended because of many reasons, and they are as follows:

  • Vogue of Media– We are continually embraced by mass media in multiple modes, which include conventional media like television, reading newspapers and now information media or social networks.
  • Impact of Media- Media has a very much effect on every individual faith, behavior and approach. Media literacy permits teaches us to learn how media information is established. and how they design our opinion all around.
  • Significance of Digital Citizenship- With the increase in multimedia people need to know how to join in digital community protectively and responsibly. Media literacy permits people to attain digital citizenship and join the online community mindfully and productively.
  • Requirement for Critical Analysis- Media literacy is a very important part of critical analysis which is vital for creating.  Informative conclusions. And taking part in democratic events. Media literacy assists people to develop critical analysis skills, making them observe and judge media information in a mindful and well-informed manner.

Media Literacy - The Power (and Responsibility) of Information | Lisa Cutter | TEDxCherryCreekWomen

1.1. Benefits of Media Literacy 

Media literacy provides many benefits which are:

  • Media Empowerment- Media literacy permits empowering individuals by providing them with essential devices. And skills to be able to approachable and examine media information by them. This helps in making well-informed decisions.
  • Improvised Communication- Media literacy helps you communicate appropriately and build your media analysis rather than being a tolerant end user. This involves being able to generate and spread media content, which is straightforward, interesting and appealing.
  • Critical Analysis- Media literacy encourages critical analysis by involving people to observe and conclude media information for their correctness, prejudices and goals.
  • Good Citizenship- Media literacy is an important part of being a knowledgeable and informative citizen. By learning the part of media in building critical thinking and helping in making decisions so that individuals can participate in democratic events.
  • Career Growth- Media literacy skills are progressively essential in multiple occupations which include journalism, broadcasting, and digital marketing. Every individual with very much media literacy skills is supplied to triumph in these particular professions.

Importance of Media and Information Literacy

1.2. How to Become Media Literate?

There are many tips to learn to be media literate are:

  • You should be thoughtful of the media you take in. You should be attentive to and examine the information they transfer. Try to question yourself related to media like how it came. What is its purpose? What methods do they use to engage people?
  • Enhance critical thinking analysis. Be cautious about media pieces of information and learn to evaluate them very well. Find the proof to assist the allegations and scrutinize other approaches.
  • You should be aware of the existing updates. Keep an update on all the news media consumption all major and minor ones. And check which are much better in covering special events. This helps in acknowledging the problems.
  • You should learn the key media literacy skills to understand the technique media uses and media forms the information like how to frame information and edit the news and sound system. This technique helps you in understanding how they manipulate.
  • Be cautious when using media. Learn to know how the usage of media yourself affects your faith and attitude. You should be cautious about how much time you give it on social media and do take breaks in between and try to take exposure to all kinds of multimedia.
  • Reach Out to Media Literacy Measures- There are several measures accessible to support you in being aware of media literate which includes newsbooks, blogs related to some social issues, articles, digital courses and workshops. Reach out to some materials which are highly regarded and factual.

1.3. Media Literacy at Schools and Home

Educating Media literacy in Schools and at Home is highly suggestive to support individuals in understanding to enhance this skill they need to explore the complicated media world. Here are some of the ways to develop are:

  • Develop from Early Stage- It should be educated at a very early stage in children’s study. By including some activities, it can be introduced to the children like analysis, posters and asking the techniques.
  • Show Real-Life Example- You should exemplify the basics of media literacy like making them analyze the news or digital media post.
  • Encourage Media Establishment- Students must be encouraged to create their own media content like making videos or podcasts. This will be very useful for them to understand the methods used by media generation and enhance their media skills.
  • Team Up with Parents- Do encourage parents to get involved by giving them materials and educating media literacy so that they can keep track of their children’s media usage and acknowledge what kind of information s they are sharing with their classmates and their own media messages.
  • Stay Updated- You should be updated about the media technologies and latest trends and build in media literacy education.
media literacy in school
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1.4. How to Recognize Misinformation News?

Fake news telecasts are increasing in number these days in the media environment and are very essential to be able to recognize the misinformation news and prevent yourself from watching them. Here are some of the ways by which you will be able to identify fake news and disinformation:

  • Identify the Origin- You should be able to identify the origin of what you have never heard, or which has been hidden and broadcast fake news and spread misinformation. You should check the origin recognition. And find the other paths which validated the information.
  • Look for Corroboration – Sometimes fake news and misinformation news also fails to corroborate the fake news and misinformation news. Search for the validation which helps to declare being produced and reach out for another perspective.
  • Scrutinize the Setting – You should scrutinize the information before it is displayed. You should check whether it is presented in a stabilized way or produce media messages in a way to bring out an emotional reaction.
  • Misleading Thumbnail- False information (misleading thumbnail) headlines are displayed to make people click on the article. Be cautious of the misleading thumbnail and go through the fake news article.
  • Get your Checking Tools- You should have checking tools available on the internet which can help you scrutinize the information. Use the tools to scrutinize the precision of the information you read.

How false news can spread - Noah Tavlin

1.5. Limitation of Media Literacy 

Media literacy is an essential skill for exploring the complexity of the media environment in today’s time it is vital to identify their limitations. Here are some of the limitations:

  • Limited Influence on the Media Creators- Media literacy education targets making individuals learn how to explicate and decoding media messages of information. Moreover, it does not mention the problems of media production like its influence on media association, the impact of advertisement revenue on media information and the insufficiency of diversity in the media industry.
  • Limited Extend- Media literacy has not reached many of the spheres but it is considered can be much productive in schools so or any place like home so it should be extended. Media literacy should be not accessible in some settings and some people do not respond to the information.
  • Limited Efficacy in Fighting Misinformation – Media literacy is useful in fighting to identify fake news or misinformation sometimes it is hard to combat the extensive propagation of these kinds of content.
  • Time and Measures Limitations – Media literacy education is inefficient and less with resources and sometimes it becomes challenging to apply in some contents. like financially weak schools or places with less technology.

1.6. Source of Contents in Digital Media

In the digital media world, there are several sources of the content found including:

  • Conventional News- This involves printed newspapers, news programs on television, radio stations and broadcasting.
  •  Digital News- This involves news on websites, blogs and digital media platforms of this digital age.
  • Academic Inception- This involves media education news journals, books and academic base.
  • Government- This involves government web page records and printing publication.
  • Authoritative Source- This involves discussing with a subject specialist like the college professors, scholars and news industry heads.
  • Personal Growth- This involves information disseminated by friends, family, and office colleagues.
  • Consumer-Generated Media- This involves consumer-generated media information like digital reviews, digital posts, and articles.

2. How Does Society Influence Media Literacy? 

Media literacy can have an important influence. Here are some of the influences on society:

  • Empower Individual- Media literacy helps in empowering people to explore the composite network of the media environment and to create well-informed conclusions. By learning media skills people are educated to recognize fake news, prejudices, and information and to scrutinize the credibility’s.
  • Cultivate Critical Thinking Skills – Media literacy cultivates critical analysis skills which are important for knowledgeable citizens. By asking for the information to join the public and to create an informed conclusion about the problems of living and community.
  • Promote Media Wide Diversity- Media literacy helps in promoting media diversity by influencing people to reach out and involve with various kinds of sources which include substitute and unconventional media.
  • Establishing social media Citizens- Media literacy teaches the young generation how to be responsible digital citizens. By informing them about online safety, secrecy and accountability for the use of digital media.

2.1. Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship is firmly related to media literacy they both are equally important in digital media. Media literacy targets enhance critical analysis skills and learning to identify fake news whereas digital citizenship is about encouraging to be liable and to be ethically good in the digital world. Here are some of the processes of media literacy and digital citizenship interconnect are:

  • Digital Safety – Digital safety is one of the most important to an individual should how save their digital privacies and pieces of information and exchange posts through media literacy as it helps in making them able to do so whereas digital citizenship encourages the young generation to develop a responsible attitude on digital platforms like being humble moral during interactions.
  • Digital Impressions- Digital impressions encourage the importance of being acknowledged for your and others’ digital impressions Media literacy makes people aware of their digital attitude can affect their digital impression and recognition.
  • Content Literacy- Media literacy supports young people in learning how to evaluate the precision and accountability of digital content. Digital citizenship encourages being an overcritical user of social media by not sharing fake news and misinformation.
  • Online Harassment- Media literacy helps young children how to deal with online harassment and also educates them to evolve a strategy to deal with it. Digital Citizenship encourages to humble and friendly attitude in digital space and takes as take for wrong things like internet bullying or any other online harassment.

2.2. Role of Media

Media plays an important role in forming and contemplating society. Media delivers as a link for connection, teaching and activities. and beneficial impact like how an individual believes, senses and attitudes. Media has the potential to build public perception and as a result and it can influence government policy, social rules and cultural traditions.

The major role of media is to keep the audience updated on current events and troubles. Media helps to make people aware of the news related to politics, and economic and social evolution. This helps to take decisions and join in democratic events. Media has a very crucial role as through advertisement and journalism they activate the public to be updated on all the events around them.

By carefully displaying the content and building matter correctly. the media can find out how the public takes in and learn about the world around them. It can have meaningful indications for people’s policies. Political leaders, legislators.

Moreover, to update and spread the news to the public, and build public perceptiveness the media plays a vital role in unsolvable issues. Investigating journalism can help in uncovering issues like corruption and malpractice and showcase them in front of the public. Media works as a watchdog, updating and holding corruption, and provides the thoughts of diverse opinions.

2.3. Different Types of Media

There are several types of media each having different attributes and purposes. Here are some types of media:

  • Printing Media- This includes printing newspapers magazines books and many different types of resources. Printing media is the oldest form of communication and production with the emergence of social media. In today’s world, its importance has declined because of the emergence of digital media.
  • Broadcasting Media- This means radio and television. Broadcast media important mass of communication spanning an extensive big audience.
  • Social Media – This involves all different kinds of media that are spread by electronic devices, digital modes, digital news platforms and online magazines. Social media has transformed we take the news and share it with others.
  • Outdoor Advertising- This involves signboards, banners and other different kinds of outdoor advertising strategies showcased in public areas. Outdoor advertisement is highly in demand these days and is successful and impactful and spreads its message to the public instantly.
  • Movies- This involves movies, short documentaries and various forms of visual representation. Movies are a great source of medium for spreading major complex messages and sentiments and have the potential to charm and activate the public.
  • Game- This involves video games, online games and other forms of recreation. The game has been important in the mass communication industry and can be useful for educating, training and social evolution.
  • Songs- This involves all kinds of songs from classical to pop culture and all categories. Songs are vital for interaction and articulation.

Every media form has both power and flaws and knowing the differentiation is important for impactfully interacting with different people.

2.4. Power of Digital Media

Social media has become an important part of this modern world and has revolutionized the way how we interact and save content. It can reach a big public audience in a short period and has been a prominent application for advertisement and media marketing purposes. Here are some of the methods by which social media and the advertisement industry can be effective for people and the association:

  • Focused Advertisement- Digital media uses data and algorithms to focus on the advertisement to particular demography, concerns, and attitudes.  This is useful for small business owners as it helps to reach real customers and supports them in making money in less time when are many demands for their items or facility.
  • Effective Marketing- social media has come with a new type of celebrity called the influencer. These kinds of people who are influencers have huge fan following lists and play an important role in choosing products from small business owners. Influence marketing has come up in the market which has become very impactful among the people on social media.
  • Propagate Misinformation – social media sometimes causes issues spreading fake news and propagation. Social media has been censured for spreading fake news it reaches people quickly, and this kind of action leads to dangerous outcomes.
  • Effect on Mental Well-Being- Social have a great influence on mental well-being which includes anxiety issues, depression and loss of self-esteem.
  • Augmentation of Voices- social media helps in boosting the voices of the public and community which does not have a stage. This works as a vital palace where one can put forward attention to important matters and influence actions. Meanwhile, it can spread hateful messages and dangerous thoughts.
influencers
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2.5. Motives of Media Source

Social media has many motives for the sources of information they generate and spread among the public. Some of the listed motives are as follows:

  • Economical Profits- social media generates content to gain revenues through the advertisement industry, paid subscriptions or other forms. The very first goal is to generate revenue and the information created can be according to the need of the public demand or reach the sponsor or the advertising agencies.
  • Politics Felicity- Many digital media have political agendas or prejudices to inspire to generate the content. These kinds of media sources are driven to encourage advertising the specific thought or to propagate some political party or a particular candidate from the political party.
  • Favour – Media sometimes focuses on their favored issues whether it comes to environmental, social or political or individuals right. In these types of cases, the content focuses on boosting consciousness or advertising actions on specific matters.
  • Entertainment Industry- Media sometimes public desired issues which are appealing and eye captivating for the audience. In these kinds of cases, they target much on electrified content for the viewers on their demands or the articles related to it read by the readers.
  • Informative- Media is highly influenced by an urge to update the viewers about the ongoing events or the latest trends. Int these kinds of matters they generate is always targeted at presenting precise and authentic information to help the public taking decisions and progress in desired filed.

Suggested Reading:5 Reasons Why You Should Not Believe the Media Blindfolded?

3. Final Words

In conclusion, media literacy is important in today’s social media generation. It encourages to approach, of scrutinizing and creating media information s appropriately. By learning media literacy skills public can explore events in a better way which includes entertainment, films and digital citizenship.

Overall media literacy is a beneficial skill for increasing communication, advertising and cultivating a new well informed and influential populace.

 

Last Updated on by Himani Rawat

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By Anjali Raj Singh content writer
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Hello, I am a content writer expert in writing different niches like lifestyles, gaming, fashion, beauty, food, travel etc. I have written several lifestyle related contents for Icy Tales. Currently I'm writing and researching lifestyle related contents and helping people deal with day to day and general life issues as well as social life issues as well.