Minds Over AI – MIL in Digital Spaces
Technology Has Everything to Do with Literacy.
And Being Able to Use the Latest Electronic Technologies
Has Everything to Do With Being Literate.
Jeff Wilhelm
Information and communications technologies present new opportunities and challenges. The world has ~770 million people who are still functionally illiterate. As basic literacy is a prerequisite for media and information literacy (MIL), the number of people lacking it would far exceed this number. UNESCO data indicates that 85% of citizens are worried about the impact of online disinformation, and two out of three digital content creators do not systematically fact-check information before sharing it online. There are regional disparities, with some regions having high awareness. Low media and information literacy levels contribute to the spread of misinformation and disinformation and enhance Digital vulnerability (e.g., scams, privacy breaches).
Digital literacy is often discussed in the context of its precursor, media literacy. While the term media refers to all sorts of print, electronic, and digital means of communication, global media includes all forms of mass communication that reach every corner across the globe – television, newspapers, radio, and social media (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter (or X), etc.). Information literacy is a set of abilities to understand how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge. Media and information literacy is an interrelated set of competencies that help people maximise the benefits and minimise harm in the latest information, digital, and communication landscapes.
Global Media and Information Literacy Week was launched by UNESCO in 2012 as a response to the growing need for individuals to engage critically with the rapidly evolving media and information landscape. Recognising its role in fostering informed societies, UNESCO formally proclaimed it as an official observance in 2019. The UN adopted a resolution to annually commemorate “Global Media and Information Literacy Week”, emphasising the need for factual, accessible, and science-based information to bridge digital divides and empower citizens. This year’s theme, “Minds Over AI – MIL in Digital Spaces”, focuses on the intersection of media and information literacy and artificial intelligence, emphasising the importance of human judgment, ethics, and critical thinking in navigating AI-driven content and digital environments.
Global Media and Information Literacy
It is to Celebrate the Power of Informed Minds
in Digital Spaces.
Computer literacy, as a concept, is relatively modern and has evolved alongside the development of computing technology. The birth of computing in the 1950s led to computer literacy, which meant understanding programming languages. It gained traction as personal computers became available. Computer literacy expanded to include internet navigation, email, and basic troubleshooting. Computer literacy became part of broader digital literacy, including online safety, social media use, cloud computing, and mobile technology. The modern digital age has led to the proliferation of information spread across the Internet. Individuals must be able to recognise the accuracy of information and to locate, evaluate, use, and communicate it in various formats.
From Combating Misinformation to Understanding AI, Media and Information Literacy
Is More Vital Than Ever.
Ancient Indian scriptures placed immense value on literacy, knowledge, and wisdom—not just in the sense of reading and writing, but as a deeper pursuit of truth, self-realisation, and ethical living. Digital literacy should be included when you refer to knowledge. What Einstein feared is happening. The technologies driven by advanced networks in AI are surpassing human capabilities. Are we going to see a world full of idiots?    Â
Toons: Shreya
Log: M Sai Baba
ToonLogs
ToonLogs posted on the theme World Development Information Day can be accessed at: https://niascomm.in/2020/10/24/world-development-information-day/
