media literacy

American  

[mee-dee-uh lit-er-uh-see] / ˈmi di ə ˌlɪt ər ə si /

noun

1. the ability or skills to critically analyze for accuracy, credibility, or evidence of bias the content created and consumed in various media, including radio and television, the internet, and social media.

---

Etymology

Origin of media literacy

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

But the simplest fixes are often the best, says Matthew Facciani, a researcher at the Georgetown-Lancet Commission on Faith, Trust and Health at Georgetown University who studies misinformation and media literacy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

"For consumers, the media literacy message here is that you're much more emotionally vulnerable or more likely to be swayed by a VR presentation of an advocacy message, especially if the presentation focuses on loss."

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2024

Another way that women and especially moms can buffer girls' body image is by helping their daughters to develop media literacy and to think critically about the nature and purpose of media.

From Salon • Feb. 22, 2024

The report also recommended mandatory lessons on media literacy and promoting more informed and respectful debates in schools.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2024

The emergence of a networked culture, accompanied by an ethic of media literacy, open discussion and direct action held the promise of a more responsive political system wherever it spread.

From Open Source Democracy by Rushkoff, Douglas