Media Literacy and the Sustainability of Information Integrity in the Digital Era

ABSTRACT The integrity of information preservation is now seriously threatened by the growth of digital information sources in the twenty-first century. This paper aims to explore the relationship between media literacy and digital responsibility, especially among more engaged populations. Data was collected from 117 participants in a convenience sample using a quantitative survey methodology. Inquiries concerning young people's use of digital media, literacy levels, the risks of misinformation-induced misunderstandings, and the need for formal media education were used to achieve this. The findings indicate that young, well- educated social media users make up the majority of this demographic. More importantly, respondents demonstrated relatively high levels of self-efficacy in rigorous verification behaviours (e.g., self-censoring before sharing; multi-sourcing cross-checking), algorithmic influence identification, and critical evaluation. Additionally, almost all respondents concur that (1) disinformation is a serious social problem and (2) users and media/government agencies should share responsibility for finding a solution. The researchers take advantage of this to push for educational reform through a mandate, given the public's strong desire for media literacy to be included in formal education. This study lends credence to the notion that the active involvement of the most involved digital citizens forms the cornerstone of a trustworthy information environment. KEYWORDS: Media Literacy, Information Integrity, Misinformation, Digital Citizenship, Quantitative Survey, Algorithmic Bias, Digital Consumption.