CHAPTER 12FUTURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY

Lauren Gallo

Information literacy is the ability to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.“ (1)

When used in conjunction with social media applications users tend to face difficulties in assessing proper usage.

“Media and information literacy matter because people of all walks of life need to be able to deconstruct media messages and critique the quality of information sources.”

“THE STREAM” A metaphor used to describe social media which gives the

idea that information is flowed but has no beginning or end.

In a media literary sense users and followers must: 1. Understand the characteristics of “the stream”. 2. Deconstruct what is being viewed. 3. Make conscious decisions on how to spend the time on

social media.

“In many ways I consider my Twitter activities a giant, distributed, never-ending media literacy project.” –Andy Carvin (National Public Radio’s senior project manager for online communities)

With the amount of open communication and accessible global audience we must practice personal responsibility within our social media environment.

Some challenges the social media environment faces:

1. We all have the power to be publishers but few are trained to do so. 2. Mass media are full of accounts of the dangers of predators using your

public information. 3. Inappropriate and illegal communication. 4. The soaring popularity of personal websites that can cause commotion or

confusion.

HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=7_EGH9MW5Y4

We do have an advantage, however to be able to scrutinize each shared item and profile and also assist others as to whether the content is authentic or not.

HISTORY OF SOCIAL MEDIA TIMELINE

http://netdna.copyblogger.com/images/history_of_social_media.jpg

Some positive outcomes of social media are socialization and interaction

opportunities. Unfortunately, many teens as well as adults do not use

proper discretion because most times they have not had the proper literacy

development.

HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=DBRZ-LF3T6S

SOCIAL MEDIA SHARING SHOULD BE A THOUGHTFUL

ACTIVITY AND NOT A REFLEX

“Some prominent individuals and institutions are calling for schools to prepare young people to identify reliable information online.” (Levine, 2005, p. 1)

K-16 education has been slow to respond to the call for formalized information literacy education in the schools.

Elementary and secondary school teachers support the goals and values of media education but the limitations of time and resources, and curriculum make it almost impossible to include media education.

HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=C2ROEKHI20E

“Social Media For Kids”

Significant elements in understanding media literacy:

Visual literacy Technology literacy Digital literacy skills Information literacy skills

Global Media Corporations

Although social media can offer employees an outlet by having available new communication opportunities, larger social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google tend to monopolize the overall picture. It’s as if users are free to communicate but are somewhat confined to using use these sites.

Social Media and Journalists Anyone with a Twitter account can be a

reporter. Journalists are encouraged to share their

opinions. Terminated reporters were usually due to

crossing the line of good taste.

Credibility of Information Questions

Can you believe what you read?

What about the sharing of news on

Facebook? What sources of

information are most trust-worthy?

ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS?

NEW TECHNOLOGY WITHIN SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media literacy skills capacitate users to explore the technology values that occur within what is shared and talked about.

Technology companies persuade users to believe that their product is the best and try to convince them why they should purchase it.

Many of the newer products and latest inventions can only be afforded by a wealthy developing world – which can pose issues for underdeveloped areas across the globe.

HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=QXVZYIJKL1Y

We need to constantly be reminded of the false realities that affect our daily lives, recognize not everything you see is true, and make a conscious choice not to become part of the problem…

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How would social media literacy improve the quality

of communication within your social network? 2. Is there a balance between free expression and

responsible social media communication? How does media literacy promote user understanding?

3. In what ways are social media promoting social change or the status quo? How do you think this might be different going forward?

REFERENCES1.    American Library Association. 

Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. Final Report.(Chicago: American Library Association, 1989.)

2. 2. Social Media Communication, Lipschultz, Jeremy Harris, 2015.