Digital Media Literacy

Grade 6 · English · Study Guide

Learn how to critically evaluate online information, identify misinformation, and use digital media responsibly.

Digital media literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, and use information from digital sources responsibly and critically. In an age when anyone can publish content online, it is essential to know how to judge whether information is accurate, credible, and fair.

Not all sources are equally trustworthy. When reading something online, ask: Who created this content and why? Is the author or organization credible? When was it published? Does the information have citations or evidence? Is the tone neutral or does it seem designed to make you feel a strong emotion?

Misinformation is false or inaccurate information, sometimes spread without intent to deceive. Disinformation is false information spread deliberately to mislead. Both can spread rapidly on social media and other platforms.

Fact-checking is the practice of verifying information using reliable sources such as established news organizations, government websites, scientific institutions, or academic publications. Tools like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact exist to help people verify claims.

Media bias refers to how the framing, selection, and presentation of news can favor a particular viewpoint. Learning to recognize bias helps you get a fuller picture by consulting multiple sources.

Digital citizenship also involves responsible behavior online: respecting privacy, avoiding plagiarism, not sharing harmful content, and understanding the impact your digital footprint can have.

Key terms

Digital media literacy
The ability to access, evaluate, create, and share information using digital technologies responsibly.
Misinformation
False or inaccurate information spread without necessarily intending to deceive.
Disinformation
False information deliberately created and spread to mislead people.
Fact-checking
The process of verifying claims by checking them against reliable, credible sources.
Media bias
The tendency of media outlets to present information in a way that favors a particular perspective or viewpoint.
Digital footprint
The trail of data you leave behind when using the internet, including posts, searches, and messages.

Flashcards

Digital media literacy
The skill of accessing, evaluating, and using digital information responsibly and critically.
Misinformation
False or inaccurate information spread without intent to deceive.
Disinformation
Deliberately false information created and spread to mislead others.
Fact-checking
Verifying claims by consulting credible, reliable sources.
Media bias
When news coverage favors one viewpoint over another through word choice, story selection, or framing.
Digital footprint
The permanent record of your online activity, including posts, searches, and messages.
Credibility
The quality of being trusted and believed, based on expertise, accuracy, and transparency.
Primary source
An original, firsthand source of information such as a research study, government data, or eyewitness account.

Questions

  1. What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation?

    1. Misinformation is always online; disinformation is always in print
    2. Misinformation is false but not intentionally deceptive; disinformation is false and deliberately spread to mislead
    3. Misinformation is spread by governments; disinformation is spread by individuals
    4. There is no difference between them
    Show answer

    Answer: Misinformation is false but not intentionally deceptive; disinformation is false and deliberately spread to mislead

    Misinformation is inaccurate but not always intentional; disinformation is specifically created and spread with the intent to deceive.

  2. Having a large number of likes or shares on a social media post is strong evidence that the information in it is accurate.

    Show answer

    Answer: False

    Popularity (likes and shares) reflects engagement, not accuracy. False information can go viral just as easily as true information.

  3. The trail of data you leave behind when using the internet — including posts and searches — is called your digital ______.

    Show answer

    Answer: footprint

    Your digital footprint is the collection of data your online activities produce — it can be permanent and visible to others.

  4. Which of the following is the BEST strategy for verifying a news story you see on social media?

    1. Share it right away because your friends need to know
    2. Believe it if the headline sounds believable
    3. Check the claim using multiple reputable news sources or fact-checking websites
    4. Trust it if it comes from someone you follow
    Show answer

    Answer: Check the claim using multiple reputable news sources or fact-checking websites

    Cross-referencing claims with multiple reputable sources and fact-checkers is the most reliable way to verify information.

  5. Media bias can affect how news is presented even when the facts reported are technically accurate.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    Bias can influence how stories are framed, which details are included or omitted, and what language is used — even when individual facts are correct.

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