Abstract
The increasing presence of fake news and misinformation in the contemporary digital media landscape is of concern to practitioners, educators, policy makers, and the public alike. Whilst the existence of fake news is not new, audiences are aware that the ‘quality’ of information that poses as being factual has changed significantly and is experienced more often in our digital culture. Using the results of a survey (n = 435) this paper examines how young news consumers in the UAE are applying news literacy knowledge and skills to identify and manage incorrect news and information. By regarding this audience as having digital agency, the results of the study demonstrate how they apply aspects of the 5As of media literacy education to fake news and misinformation. The findings contribute to our understanding of how specific news literacy behaviours (NLBs), such as evaluating sources, verifying news content, and sharing responsibly can minimise exposure to and mitigate the impact of fake news.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-24 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | Arab Media and Society |
| Volume | 2023 |
| Issue number | 35 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 1 2023 |
Keywords
- active audience
- digital agency
- fake news
- mitigation
- news literacy behaviours
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cultural Studies
- Communication
- Literature and Literary Theory