Media literacy is essential in light of the challenges users face, such as social media addiction, cybercriminals, propaganda, and hate speech.
Mika Beuster, president of the German Journalists’ Association, made this statement in an interview with Ukrinform.
“I agree that media literacy is just as important as teaching children road safety. We teach them to stop at a red light and look both ways, but then we give the little ones smartphones and say, ‘Have fun!’” he said.
Beuster noted that there are rules and threats on the internet that users are only just beginning to learn about: social media addiction, cybercriminals, propaganda, and hate speech.
The president of the German Journalists’ Association also expressed the view that the media should be more transparent and explain how they create their content, how they investigate issues, and what criteria they use to select topics.
