The discussion answers for this week were mostly based on the resources provided for this blog. The main topic was media literacy and PLN. We discussed several questions, starting with, “What exactly is media literacy?” Our answer concluded that it is essentially the ability to access, evaluate, and create messages in various forms. We further discussed this as Julie Smith mentioned, highlighting media and its evolution through time from radios to television and now social media on our phones. I believe this transition has also changed the meaning behind media literacy. In the past, it was about reflecting and understanding information on broadcasts, where critical listening skills played a major role. In the era of television, media literacy expanded to include visual literacy, meaning interpreting visual cues such as camera angles, lighting, and editing, which influence our perceptions. Lastly, in the era of smartphones and social media, we have not only passive consumption of media but also engaging and creating vast amounts of content. Therefore, there is now another important concept of being aware of ‘fake news’, along with privacy issues and digital footprints. Media literacy is important as it shapes our perceptions of others and impacts our daily decisions. It is a way to be aware of credible and misleading content, discern stereotypes, and isolate social clichés. However, we often see that media literacy is dismaying due to primarily the concept of familiarity and lack of in-depth understanding. We choose to rely on sources that align with our ways of thinking, leading to echo chambers. We should aim for varied views but the factual consensus in our PLN, as it facilitates balanced and well-informed perspectives, and as we already know, diverse perceptions can avoid echo chambers and foster critical thinking.
However, factual information can often lead to conflicts when people tend to think that they are always right. They engage in content that aligns with their beliefs and thoughts, leading to echo chambers. The ‘familiarity backfire effect’, as mentioned by Smith, where contradictory information strengthens one’s pre-existing beliefs, plays a role here. For example, if you are debating something and trying to prove that you are correct, you would search on social media in your favor. Due to the vast content available on social media platforms, there would be information both for and against the debate, but people tend to engage only in the content that favors them, and exposure to diverse perspectives would lead to cognitive dissonance, resulting in conflict.
Some of the benefits of PLN in valuing media literacy can be exposure to diverse ways of thinking. This exposure is important to prevent echo chambers, foster critical thinking, and understand topics better. One example mentioned by Smith is that of Twitter, which acts as a faculty room where people can share resources and ideas, fostering continuous learning and adaptation. Another benefit is that as people share their resources, experiences, and strategies, it can help everyone understand complex topics more effectively. Also, given the evolving nature of media, a PLN that values media literacy can help individuals stay updated, which is crucial for educators who need a constant check if their skills and knowledge are relevant in today’s world or not.
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