Media literacy & mis / dis information

Ofcom has undertaken desk research into mis/dis information and the data on the interplay between this and media literacy is inconclusive and limited, especially in the UK. Additionally, a project is currently underway to look at the spread of mis/dis information and a qualitative project to help interpret these numbers through a media literacy lens will be particularly helpful.

This is a small scale qualitative research project designed to explore the relationship between mis/dis information and media literacy in order to better understand how media literacy can be used as a lever to address the use and sharing of mis- and is-information, and the opportunities and limitations for media literacy initiatives as a means to helping people develop critical thinking skills to help them identify reliable sources of information online. It is designed to reach potential believers of mis/dis information without positioning Ofcom as the arbiter of the 'truth'. The focus will be the main topics being explored in the Online Safety work (health, climate change, Russia/Ukraine) although we might also choose to add other topics if helpful.