Dan Mills’ Post

Would you trust TikTok over Reuters for credible news? Many teens do — and the consequences of this trend are reshaping how an entire generation interacts with information. ➡️ Teens today encounter conspiracy theories almost daily, yet less than 40% receive any media literacy education - shocking. A new study reveals widespread inability to differentiate between biased content and credible news. From mislabeling advertisements as news to trusting brand names over investigative journalism, the gaps are glaring. ➡️ Even with some media literacy, exposure to misinformation increases, possibly due to sharper detection skills. Schools, however, remain largely unequipped, with only six US states offering guidelines for teaching media literacy and just three making it mandatory. 👉 80% see conspiracy theories weekly; 20% daily 👉 Only 15% actively seek trustworthy news 👉 Media literacy boosts fact-checking confidence but remains rare ➡️ The stakes? Misguided algorithms and misinformation threaten an informed society. Education is long over due and schools must prioritize equipping teens with the tools to critically assess the flood of digital information ❓ As digital media reshapes truth, how can we ensure the next generation is equipped to thrive in an era of disinformation? Share your thoughts in the comments. Read the full story on Fast Company: https://lnkd.in/gSqx9ucS #BanTeensSocialMedia #Ethics #Digital #Literacy #Future #Generation ---- 💡 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗽𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 - you can have real-time insights, recommendations (a lot more than I share here) and conversations with my digital twin via text, audio or video in 28 languages! Join >6000 users who went before and go to app.thedigitalspeaker.com to sign up and take our connection to the next level! 🚀

In a world dominated by social media, understanding how to navigate the complex landscape of information is crucial. A recent study highlights the media literacy levels among Instagram and X users, revealing a blend of confidence and gaps that can affect how we consume and share information. According to the research, many users exhibit a moderately high level of media literacy. Most respondents expressed confidence in their ability to keep up with media changes and use various platforms effectively. However, when it comes to distinguishing between real and fake news, the results show a mixed bag - 78.5% felt confident identifying commercial messages, indicating a need for ongoing education in this area. The findings underscore that while a substantial portion of users actively practices media literacy, verifying content's accuracy before sharing is essential. Those with better media literacy are more likely to engage in critical analysis and authenticate information before dissemination, reducing the spread of misinformation. As industry workers, we have a responsibility to foster media literacy through targeted interventions and educational programs. By incorporating media literacy into curricula at all levels, we can equip future generations with the tools needed to discern reliable information from misleading content. It is crucial to encourage all social media users to confirm, check, and critically evaluate the information they come across, particularly on platforms like Instagram and X. With increased media literacy, we can work together to combat fake news and foster a more informed, responsible online community. Empowering users leads to smarter sharing, healthier dialogue, and ultimately, a stronger democracy. Link to the study: https://lnkd.in/dyM5FMeU #MediaLiteracy #SocialMedia #FakeNews #Education #DigitalLiteracy #X #Instagram #ResponsibleSharing #CommunityEngagement #NewsBlast

Great news from our daughter company Young Media 🚀 Young Media relaunches PAUZE: the youth magazine that marked a generation in the 80s and 90s is now back as an interactive digital platform. In partnership with Young Impact, PAUZE is transformed into a space where young people aged 13-18 can express themselves, discover current issues and connect with real and relevant stories. PAUZE will be led by guest editors-in-chief, who will bring their youth perspective to make this platform an accurate reflection of their interests and aspirations. Patricia van Liemt, Managing Director Public at Young Media, describes this project with enthusiasm: ‘For many of us, PAUZE was a window to new ideas and an inspiration in our youth. Today, we want to recreate that impact and provide a space where young people can explore the world from their own perspectives’. This is an important step for Young Media, which reinforces our commitment to creating inclusive platforms that truly respond to the concerns of the younger generation. PAUZE will launch early next year, as a digital community that represents and empowers today's Young. #Young #PAUZE #Youth #YoungImpact #YoungImpact #DigitalInnovation #YoungMedia

A new study by SC&I Ph.D. Candidate Nikhila Natarajan and advised by SC&I Professor and Chair of Journalism and Media Studies Amy Jordan examines the motivations and reasons behind teens taking a break from or stopping using social media. The study found that teens are crafting their own “frictions” – defined as moments of intentional pause – to resist social media design that keep users constantly engaged. Older teens reported using reminder apps, calendars and a quick glance at the clock time on their phones as checks on their social media scrolling habit. Reminders from parents are a bigger factor for younger teens. “An effective way for parents to talk to their teens about social media use is to focus on the gaps between teens' prioritizing and organizing skills and the manipulative design of social media platforms,” Natarajan said. More: https://lnkd.in/exf2a_w4 #RutgersResearch #RutgersExcellence

It has never been easier to spread misinformation, either deliberately or by accident, than it is right now. The digital age has amplified a diverse set of voices on social media, for better or worse. While many users are well-intentioned and act as online educators, they have the capacity to spread fake news, which can irreparably harm the public good. And spread it does: An often-cited study by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that fake news reaches people about six times faster than the truth. Even outside of deliberately fake news, it is easy for information to be taken out of context in a short-form social media post. More than three quarters of Generation Z relies on social media for news. Although X, formerly known as Twitter, is the most commonly used social media website by journalists, the general public decidedly prefers Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for their news. Younger generations increasingly rely on social media influencers rather than journalists to interpret and report the news. By instituting media literacy education in schools, we can nurture an informed future electorate, capable of discerning fact from fiction, fostering thoughtful discourse and contributing positively to the complex media landscape of the 21st century

📣 We are excited to announce the continuation of the Canadian Teen Fact-Checking Network in partnership with MediaSmarts | HabiloMédias! This program extension is part of a larger initiative between MediaWise, the Poynter Institute and the International Fact-Checking Network, with support from Google News Initiative. Read the linked announcement to learn how the activities will boost media literacy and support a healthy information ecosystem. #medialiteracy https://lnkd.in/eTYezyXF

What does Ofcom's latest Online Nation 2024 report tell us about youth audiences? ⏱️ 18-24s are spending the most time online a day, 6 hours 1 minute 🩵 Gen Z women are spending almost an hour more a day than men - 6 hours 36 minutes vs 5 hours 28 minutes 🥰 TikTok and SnapChat are the most popular platforms among 18-24s, but again Gen Z women are spending more time on TikTok than men 😴 Do not sleep on Reddit! It's made the top 10 platforms for the first time and reached 77% of 18-24s this year up from 58% in 2023 🧠 They're online more, but are also more concerned about their healthy balance with time spent online, although most agree the benefits outweigh the risks 😥 Younger audiences are most likely to experience online harms, with 80% of 18-24s reporting experiencing them, compared with 55% of 65+ I shared more in a blog here (link to full Ofcom report in comments). And if you like all things engaging youth - I do a weekly update that you can sign up to below as well.

📰 Excited to share my latest article for Digital Content Next (DCN) on how hyper-local news can better engage with younger audiences! 🌟 It's not new that we've faced a gap in connecting with younger audiences. My recent article dives into the need for a fresh approach that bridges this divide and fosters genuine connections. We're seeing a shift where young Americans prioritize local economic issues, social justice, and environmental concerns, yet traditional media often falls short in these areas. This disconnect calls for rethinking how news is delivered and perceived. Hyper-local coverage has emerged as a transformative strategy. News organizations can resonate more deeply with younger audiences by focusing on issues that directly impact local communities. It's a tough pill but as we navigate evolving news consumption habits, media must evolve beyond only fact-based and data-backed reporting. We need to provide actionable insights and resources that empower readers to make informed decisions and take meaningful action in their daily lives. This shift not only enhances engagement but also strengthens the role of journalism in society. #DigitalContent #HyperLocalNews #YoungAudiences #MediaInnovation #NewsEngagement Michelle Manafy

TikTok is launching a news literacy hub. Like other social platforms, TikTok has become part of the political fabric - and it’s taking steps to help young (and older) voters understand how and what information to trust. This a big, and important move as a new generation of voters prepare to cast their ballots in the UK, US, and beyond in major elections....in a world where it's become quite difficult to tell which video clips of candidates are "real" or "fake".. It’s the first platform to launch a dedicated 2024 UK General Election Centre that connects users with verified information from the Electoral Commission. It’s also sharing tips for spotting fake news and definitions for things like disinformation. “As the UK prepares to go to the polls for the General Election, we are committed to ensuring that our TikTok community has the skills to assess whether the information that they read, see or hear during this busy time is reliable and accurate.” 📚 More here: https://lnkd.in/g3Q5VXXv

Trump Assassination Attempt and Social Media All forms of social media are currently saturated with news stories about today's assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Any image that is coming out has captured multiple people filming on phones...that content is all over social media. Elon Musk has shared video footage, and there is content including photos of the deceased perpetrator. This content is everywhere, making it nearly impossible to protect children from potentially disturbing images and possible misinformation as more news comes to light. Children are increasingly exposed to content on social media that may not be appropriate for their age due to complete disregard for age recommendation guidelines. Some practical steps Start by having open and honest conversations with your children about the content they might encounter online. Explain the nature of political violence and why certain content is inappropriate for their age. Encourage them to come to you with questions or let you know if they see something upsetting. Be attentive to your children's emotional and mental well-being....and your own. Exposure to violent or disturbing content can be traumatic. No matter how desensitised we might be to such content, it affects everyone differently. Seek professional help if needed. Please check the credibility of the sources you read. Look for news from reputable outlets. Before sharing any information, ask if it is from a trusted source and if it is confirmed by multiple credible reports. There is already a lot of misinformation out there. Have open conversations about the impact of misinformation with your children as well. Explain how false information can create unnecessary fear and division. Help them understand the importance of sharing accurate information and recognising fake news. Having a keen interest in how these tactics work online, informed by my past work, I see similar war strategies of fear and division deployed as part of the current US election process. Social media is rife with misinformation that creates panic and mistrust, undermining public confidence in the democratic process. These tactics exploit social and political divides, making it harder for communities to stay united. Online and off, it's crucial to promote resilience, verify information, and maintain unity to counteract these efforts. Please encourage children to think critically about the information they see online. Discuss how to spot fake news and why not everything on social media is true. This critical thinking skill is essential for their digital literacy. Make it a habit to stay informed with your children by reading news from reliable sources together. This can be a learning experience for both you and your child, fostering an environment of shared knowledge and understanding.