Teenagers now access the internet more frequently from a variety of locations, including home and school, and through a variety of devices, including cellphones, PCs, and tablets, as a result of the increase of next-generation users. According to a 2015 Pew survey, 92% of teenagers use the internet every day, and 71% use many social networking sites. Social media’s rise as a major source has transformed the way people create and consume news. But since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the proliferation of “fake news” has grown significantly, raising questions about how it may affect elections, terrorism, and natural catastrophes.
This study focuses on Pakistani teens’ news consumption patterns and how they spot false information on social media. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to fake news because they frequently lack the ability to validate news sources, according to the research. Their heavy reliance on social media and the internet for information emphasizes the necessity of teaching digital media literacy in schools in order to solve these issues. The report highlights the lack of implementation of digital media literacy at the school and college levels in Pakistani education and advocates for legislative changes to address this problem.
Social media sites, where news is frequently inaccurate or partial, have replaced traditional media as the primary source of news for teenagers. The increasing ubiquity of false information, particularly on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, exacerbates this change. Teenagers are nevertheless less inclined to assess news sources critically. Enhancing digital media literacy is crucial to assisting youth in navigating this new environment, as seen by the widespread acceptance of fake news during the 2016 U.S. elections and other international events.
This study recommends the implementation of digital media literacy programs in Pakistani schools to equip students with the necessary skills to critically interact with online news and identify false material.
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