Media Literacy is defined as “the ability to encode and decode the symbols transmitted via media and synthesize, analyze and produce mediated messages.”* To simplify, media literacy is when you are able to understand, think critically about what you are seeing in the media, but also be able to create your own content and express yourself effectively.
As digital media expands it’s expected that you can adapt to it just as quickly. Sometimes, it’s simple. Other times it’s difficult to navigate the information that is coming at you at rapid speed. Interpreting it all is further complicated when it comes to weeding out information that isn’t genuine. That’s why media literacy is crucial in this day and age. Having this skill can improve how you feel about the digital world and how you feel about yourself in this space.
Learning to Question What you See In Media
A key part of media literacy is learning to question what you consume. What you see online can impact your emotions, beliefs, and your relationships intrinsically (how you feel about yourself) and extrinsically (your connections with others). Additionally, the internet, for a lot of people, is the main source to get information.
Unfortunately, there is information on the internet that is not trustworthy. Information that is biased and lacks fact is out there and it gets shared for a number of reasons. This is an uncontrollable aspect of the internet. Everyone has the ability to share what they want. While this can allow for creativity and community, it can also be dangerous. It can be an opportunity for confusion, fear, and manipulation. Fortunately, creating a strong foundation of media literacy is an effective way to combat the dangers of misinformation.
5 Media LiteracyTips- Practice is key!
Now you know more about what media literacy is and why you need it. The next important question to ask yourself is “how do I apply this information?” Practicing media literacy takes time and patience to become good at. It is important for you to remember that this skill is all about curiosity, not judgement.
- Ask questions about what you are seeing in the media.
- What are the motivations behind this post or article?
- Is the purpose to inform, provoke, or persuade?
- Check the sources.
- Can you find this information from multiple, credible outlets? If not, question that more!
- Be aware of emotional triggers.
- Ask yourself why something made you angry, scared, or elated.
- Rage baiting is a tactic where people use media to accomplish the goal of getting a reaction from the reader. Some accounts “produce memes and write posts that make other users viscerally angry, then bask in the thousands, or even millions, of shares and likes”. Don’t let this interfere with your ability to critically evaluate information effectively.
- Be aware of bias, even your own!
- Evaluate why you’re reposting or sharing something.
- Take a moment to verify and look for intentions.
- Additionally, getting multiple ideas and perspectives on topics can not only expand your openness but minimize biases too.
- Distinguish between advertisements and fact.
- Ask yourself if what you see online has ulterior motives.
- Frequently, brands will use tactics like presenting unhelpful or cherry-picked data, to prey on your emotions. Try to stay resilient and skeptical to these “solutions” companies will try to sell you on.
- For a deeper look into this aspect of media literacy, click here.
- Ask questions about what you are seeing in the media.
Self-Determination Theory and Media Literacy
Self-determination theory (SDT) was developed by researchers Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan. The theory approaches human motivation through intrinsic and extrinsic factors that result in personality and behavior. SDT explains that all humans have 3 basic psychological needs; autonomy (control over their lives and behavior), competence (mastery over tasks), and relatedness (sense of belonging). Let’s apply this theory to media literacy.
Autonomy:
Be in control of what you consume by questioning the information you are taking in, not being influenced by mindless absorption. Deciding for yourself and making decisions for your betterment is autonomy. This allows you to form your own beliefs, make your own decisions, and understand what you are taking in.
Competence:
Mastery of media literacy is possible. You learn how to find reliable sources, to fact-check and recognize intent. Forming opinions from the information that you are confident in, in this digital environment shows competence because it is a skill. The complexities of information online can be overwhelming but going through successfully can boost your confidence and reduce the helplessness feeling.
Relatedness:
Connecting with others and creating to reach others is a special component of media literacy. Being able to communicate effectively digitally and engage digitally correlates with relatedness. Media literacy can help you understand different perspectives. In turn, this enables you to make meaningful contributions to online communities.
When all three of these needs are met it is described as autonomous motivation. The work of SDT fosters psychological well-being and engagement.
Additionally, being competent in media literacy can improve well-being because it is based on the needs of self-determination theory. Media literacy goes beyond being a skill for determining fact versus fiction by also being a tool for empowerment when navigating a digital environment.
Media Literacy- Worth the Effort
At its core, having an understanding in media literacy is not only empowering and provides confidence, but it reduces helplessness. You can always remind yourself that you are in control when you are scrolling online or searching on the internet.
On a larger scale, practicing media literacy creates an informed society that is less likely to fall for manipulation and fake media. Additionally, online spaces could be less divided and more engaged.
We encourage you to engage with what you see online, in the news, on billboards, etc. Check what you are consuming – question and analyze your reactions and feelings. The internet can be chaotic and messy, but with media literacy you have the tools to navigate through it.
We’re psychotherapists in Weschester, NY.
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Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gp555xy5ro
https://namle.org/resources/media-literacy-defined/
https://www.learningforjustice.org/understanding-media-literacy
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8582977/
https://www.fielding.edu/why-is-digital-literacy-so-often-overlooked-as-a-solution/
