Advancing children’s news media literacy: learning from the practices and experiences of young Australians

Abstract

Social media use has redefined the production, experience and consumption of news media. These changes have made verifying and trusting news content more complicated and this has led to a number of recent flashpoints for claims and counter-claims of ‘fake news’ at critical moments during elections, natural disasters and acts of terrorism. Concerns regarding the actual and potential social impact of fake news led us to carry out the first nationally representative survey of young Australians’ news practices and experiences. Our analysis finds that while social media is one of young people’s preferred sources of news, they are not confident about spotting fake news online and many rarely or never check the source of news stories. Our findings raise important questions regarding the need for news media literacy education – both in schools and in the home. Therefore, we consider the historical development of news media literacy education and critique the relevance of dominant frameworks and pedagogies currently in use. We find that news media has become neglected in media literacy education in Australia over the past three decades, and we propose that current media literacy frameworks and pedagogies in use need to be rethought for the digital age.

Teens’ Motivations to Spread Fake News on WhatsApp

“…Thus, when faced with clickbait-type content on YouTube, about a child who apparently receives a beating, they display a certain reluctance to share it. Although, on the contrary, probably resulting from their ignorance or naivety, teens share with the intention of “informing others” contents of their interest, which affects them or which is very spectacular (Figueira & Oliveira, 2017; Loos et al, 2018; Notley et al, 2017; Sbardella, 2017; Tickle, 2018; Wineburg et al, 2016). It is also possible that, within this eagerness to inform others underlies, as Marwick (2018) and Fernández and Fernández (2017) pointed out, the need to reaffirm one’s identity or to convey certain affinities, ideologies, or interests.…”

“…Their access takes place mainly through social media, where secondary sources and contents received from their friends are more highly valued than the original source of information. They display little interest in the accuracy of a news item in favor of contents that really affect them, preferably of a humorous, striking, or novel nature (Austrian Safer Internet Center, 2017; Figueira & Oliveira, 2017; Greek Safer Internet Center, 2019; Loos et al, 2018; Notley et al, 2017; Sbardella, 2017; Tickle, 2018; Wineburg et al, 2016).…”

Tactics of news literacy: How young people access, evaluate, and engage with news on social media

“…While studies have argued that media educators can play a role in fostering such forms of civic engagement (e.g. Notley and Dezuanni, 2019), the interviews particularly highlight the importance of parents in this process. In families where parents regularly consumed news, current affairs were a frequent topic of discussion, both face-to-face and online, such as for Sanne (18 years) who mainly followed the news through links shared in her family's WhatsApp group.…”

The Study of Digital Platform Service Market Definition Based on the Attention Cost

“…A 2018 study found that media literacy in the Australian Curriculum was 'developed in the pre-digital era [with] the resources available in many schools … informed by understandings about legacy media and communications' and that 'there have thus far been very few efforts to reconceptualise media literacy for digital contexts within educational policy.' 1310 Similarly, a review of digital media literacy in Tasmanian schools concluded that 'more clarity is required for teachers from school and curriculum authorities regarding media literacy instruction and the priority it should be given in Australian classrooms'. 1311 Several stakeholders support increasing digital media literacy education beyond the approach of the current Australian Curriculum.…”