Winnowing Fake vs Fact: Media Literacy and Media Message Evaluation Practices of First-Time Voter College Students

Abstract

This study investigated the level of media literacy and its influence on the most prevalent media message evaluation practices of first-time Filipino college-student voters. It compared the level of media literacy components—using media devices, understanding media, and contributing to media content, and how these influence evaluation of media messages. It is significant in the current learning context as students are immersed in a digital media landscape filled with unverified data, misinformation, and biased, distorted updates. Thus, looking into voters’ capacity to discern and discriminate between facts and fake information is necessary so that interventions may be adopted. Results indicate a self-reported mean of 2.83 in using media devices; 3 in understanding media; and 3 in contributing to media content. Further, the most prevalent media information evaluation practice is to consider message and meaning rather than the author and intended audience, or what media represents and if it reflects reality. Finally, understanding media is the most significant predictor influencing the prevalent media message evaluation practices of participants in the study.