From Premium Times Nigeria · Chiamaka Okafor-Onumah · · 2m
Why media and information literacy belongs in every child’s learning journey
Children need tools to question information safely as fake news grows.
In brief
Children need tools to question information safely as fake news grows. Media and information literacy should be taught in schools to help children verify information before sharing. Originally reported by Premium Times Nigeria.
Children hear false messages
A child hears about no school tomorrow through a friend, WhatsApp, or video.
Children lack information skills
Children are surrounded by information but rarely taught how to question it safely.
Media and information literacy definition
Media and information literacy helps children ask where information came from, what evidence supports it, and why it was shared.
MIL starts in childhood
Children need the confidence to explore alongside skills to pause and check information.
Children encounter diverse information
Children get information through family conversations, school, radio, TV, books, phones, social media, and AI.
Information brings both opportunities and risks
A child can discover new subjects or create original content, but also face false health advice or harmful messages.
Young Truth Detectives initiative
Young Truth Detectives is a MILID Foundation workbook with six missions to build information skills.
Practical skills for children
Children learn to distinguish between misinformation and disinformation through repeated practice.
The stop before sharing habit
The most useful lesson is to stop before sharing information to verify it.
Facilitator’s Guide for adults
Teachers, parents, and caregivers are central to the learning process with lesson plans and home activities.
Age-sensitive learning approach
The program adapts to children’s ages and local contexts for better engagement.
AI adds urgency to MIL
Artificial intelligence creates convincing but inaccurate content that children need to verify.
MIL benefits communities
Communities depend on accurate information for health, education, safety, and public life decisions.
MIL supports education goals
Media and information literacy belongs alongside reading, writing and foundational skills.
Schools and families can act
Schools can make space for MIL activities, families can talk about message sources before sharing.
Consistency is key for success
MIL should be a continuing practice with consistent habits across home, school, and community.
What to remember
Media and information literacy should be taught in schools to help children verify information before sharing.
