Media literacy, citizenship and the fight against misinformation among São Paulo’s Youth

Abstract

The present time is marked by technological advancement and intense circulation of information in the digital media, which consequently creates difficulty for society to absorb relevant content amidst the increasing flow of misinformation. In this context, this article investigates how high school students deal with media as a means to foster the development of critical citizens in the fight against informational disorder. Following a theoretical-methodological protocol considering the skills necessary for media literacy, in-depth interviews were conducted with thirty-six students from public and private schools in São Paulo, aiming to understand their reality regarding media access, evaluation, and creation skills. The results reveal the need to deepen media use in schools; the value of information fact-checking by young people; their limited engagement on social media for causes they believe in; as well as restricted knowledge regarding the impact of algorithms on everyday life in society.