The potential for media literacy to combat misinformation:results of a rapid evidence assessment

Academics, policymakers and social media platforms have discussed media literacy responses to misinformation. To examine what is known about the effectiveness of specific strategies, we conducted a Rapid Evidence Assessment of research conducted between 2011 and 2021, focused on the intersection of media literacy with misinformation. The analysis revealed valuable insights and evidence for certain media literacy interventions, including strategies that prompt conscious and logic-driven engagement with content and develop critical thinking skills. Varying definitions of misinformation and media literacy highlighted the complexity of the field, which creates challenges for drawing additional insights from results across studies. We also identified different ways in which the value of future research could be extended: more robust methodologies, inclusion of a wider variety of platforms, more inclusive sampling, including of vulnerable and marginalised populations, and more research conducted in global majority countries. These are crucial gaps that future research should correct.