Countering Political Misinformation in the US through Instructional Media Literacy: A Policy and Design Perspective
Keywords:
Political Misinformation, Media Literacy, Instructional Design, Democratic Integrity and Policy FrameworksAbstract
Media literacy has become an essential tool for addressing the growing challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and political propaganda in the digital age. This study explores the theoretical, pedagogical, and policy dimensions of media literacy as a framework for strengthening democratic integrity and civic engagement. It begins by examining historical patterns of propaganda, the role of social media in amplifying false information, and case studies of misinformation during elections and crises. The analysis then turns to education, highlighting curriculum design, pedagogical strategies for critical thinking and fact-checking, and the roles of teachers, librarians, and civic organizations in fostering informed citizenship. At the policy level, federal and state initiatives, regulatory practices, and the delicate balance between free speech and information integrity are critically assessed. Furthermore, the study investigates instructional design models, technology-enhanced learning tools such as games and AI, and evaluation metrics for program effectiveness. Finally, it emphasizes integrating media literacy into national education standards, advancing policy recommendations, and applying design thinking innovations to counter misinformation. Overall, the paper underscores the importance of a multidimensional approach that blends education, policy, and technology to safeguard democratic values in an era of information disorder.
Downloads
References
Allcott, H., & Gentzkow, M. (2017). Social media and fake news in the 2016 election. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(2), 211–236. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.31.2.211
Amebleh, J., Igba, E. & Ijiga, O. M. (2021). Graph-Based Fraud Detection in Open-Loop Gift Cards: Heterogeneous GNNs, Streaming Feature Stores, and Near-Zero-Lag Anomaly Alerts International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology Volume 8, Issue 6 doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRSET
Ashley, S., & Maksl, A. (2021). News media literacy and political engagement: What’s the connection? Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 76(3), 303–315.
Atalor, S. I. (2019). Federated Learning Architectures for Predicting Adverse Drug Events in Oncology Without Compromising Patient Privacy ICONIC RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING JOURNALS JUN 2019 | IRE Journals | Volume 2 Issue 12 | ISSN: 2456-8880
Atalor, S. I. (2022). Data-Driven Cheminformatics Models for Predicting Bioactivity of Natural Compounds in Oncology. International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology, 1(1), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v1i1.496
Atalor, S. I., Raphael, F. O. & Enyejo, J. O. (2023). Wearable Biosensor Integration for Remote Chemotherapy Monitoring in Decentralized Cancer Care Models. International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology Volume 10, Issue 3 (www.ijsrst.com) doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST23113269
Azonuche, T. I., & Enyejo, J. O. (2024). Agile Transformation in Public Sector IT Projects Using Lean-Agile Change Management and Enterprise Architecture Alignment. International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology, 3(8), 21–39. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v3i8.432
Azonuche, T. I., & Enyejo, J. O. (2024). Evaluating the Impact of Agile Scaling Frameworks on Productivity and Quality in Large-Scale Fintech Software Development. International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology, 3(6), 57–69. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v3i6.449
Azonuche, T. I., & Enyejo, J. O. (2024). Exploring AI-Powered Sprint Planning Optimization Using Machine Learning for Dynamic Backlog Prioritization and Risk Mitigation. International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology, 3(8), 40–57. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v3i8.448.
Azoulay, A. (2024). Online disinformation : UNESCO unveils action plan to regulate social media platforms https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/online-disinformation-unesco-unveils-action-plan-regulate-social-media-platforms
Bennett, W. L., & Livingston, S. (2020). The disinformation order: Disruptive communication and the decline of democratic institutions. European Journal of Communication, 35(2), 122–139.
Bulger, M., & Davison, P. (2018). The promises, challenges, and futures of media literacy. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 10(1), 1–21.
Cinelli, M., Morales, G. D. F., Galeazzi, A., Quattrociocchi, W., & Starnini, M. (2021). The echo chamber effect on social media. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(9), e2023301118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023301118
CISA. (2022). Combatting misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. https://www.cisa.gov
Clayton, K., Blair, S., Busam, J. A., Forstner, S., Glance, J., Green, G., ... & Nyhan, B. (2021). Real solutions for fake news? Measuring the effectiveness of general warnings and fact-check tags in reducing belief in false stories on social media. Political Behavior, 43(3), 1073–1095.
Creel, G. (2020). How we advertised America: The Committee on Public Information 1917–1919. CreateSpace Independent Publishing. (Original work published 1920)
Effron, D. A., & Raj, M. (2020). Misinformation and morality: Encountering fake-news headlines makes them seem less unethical to publish and share. Psychological Science, 31(1), 75–87. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797619887896
FEC. (2023). Laws and regulations. Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov
Flynn, D. J., Nyhan, B., & Reifler, J. (2017). The nature and origins of misperceptions: Understanding false and unsupported beliefs about politics. Political Psychology, 38(S1), 127–150. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12394
Gillespie, T. (2018). Custodians of the internet: Platforms, content moderation, and the hidden decisions that shape social media. Yale University Press.
Gorwa, R. (2019). The platform governance triangle: Conceptualising the informal regulation of online content. Internet Policy Review, 8(2), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.14763/2019.2.1404
Guess, A. M., Nagler, J., & Tucker, J. (2020). Exposure to untrustworthy websites in the 2016 U.S. election. Nature Human Behaviour, 4(5), 472–480.
Guess, A., & Lyons, B. (2020). Misinformation, disinformation, and online propaganda. In R. Hobbs & P. Mihailidis (Eds.), The International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy (pp. 1–13). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118978238.ieml0155
Idika, C. N. (2023). Quantum Resistant Cryptographic Protocols for Securing Autonomous Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) Communication Networks International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology Volume 10, Issue 1 doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/CSEIT2391547
Idika, C. N., James, U. U., Ijiga, O. M., Okika, N. & Enyejo, L. A, (2024). Secure Routing Algorithms Integrating Zero Trust Edge Computing for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Networks in Disaster Response Operations International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology, (IJSRMT) Volume 3, Issue 6, https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v3i6.635
Idika, C. N., James, U.U, Ijiga, O. M., Enyejo, L. A. (2023). Digital Twin-Enabled Vulnerability Assessment with Zero Trust Policy Enforcement in Smart Manufacturing Cyber-Physical System International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology Volume 9, Issue 6 doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRCSEIT
Idika, C. N., Salami, E. O., Ijiga, O. M. & Enyejo, L. A. (2021). Deep Learning Driven Malware Classification for Cloud-Native Microservices in Edge Computing Architectures International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology Volume 7, Issue 4 doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRCSEIT
Imoh, P. O. (2023). Impact of Gut Microbiota Modulation on Autism Related Behavioral Outcomes via Metabolomic and Microbiome-Targeted Therapies International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology (IJSRMT) Volume 2, Issue 8, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v2i8.494
Jacobson, T. E., Mackey, T. P., & O’Brien, K. (2018). Developing metaliterate learners: Transforming literacy across disciplines. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 44(3), 304–311.
James, U. U. (2022). Machine Learning-Driven Anomaly Detection for Supply Chain Integrity in 5G Industrial Automation Systems International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology Volume 9, Issue 2 doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRSET
James, U. U. (2024). Blockchain Based Compliance Auditing For GRC Integration in Hybrid Cloud IT Governance Frameworks. International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology doi :https://doi.org/10.32628/CSEIT24113368
James, U. U., Idika, C. N., Enyejo, L. A., Abiodun, K., & Enyejo, J. O. (2024). Adversarial Attack Detection Using Explainable AI and Generative Models in Real-Time Financial Fraud Monitoring Systems. International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology, 3(12), 142–157. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v3i12.644
James, U. U., Ijiga, O. M., & Enyejo, L. A. (2024). AI-Powered Threat Intelligence for Proactive Risk Detection in 5G-Enabled Smart Healthcare Communication Networks. International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology, 3(11), 125–140. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v3i11.679
Jones-Jang, S. M., Mortensen, T., & Liu, J. (2021). Does media literacy help identification of fake news? Information literacy helps, but other literacies don’t. American Behavioral Scientist, 65(2), 371–388.
Kahne, J., & Bowyer, B. (2019). Can media literacy education increase digital engagement in democracy? American Behavioral Scientist, 63(2), 174–196.
Kahne, J., & Bowyer, B. (2019). Can media literacy education increase digital engagement in democracy? American Behavioral Scientist, 63(2), 174–196.
Keller, D., & Leerssen, P. (2020). Facts and where to find them: Empirical research on internet platforms and content moderation. Journal of Free Speech Law, 1(1), 53–87.
Kovach, B., & Rosenstiel, T. (2014). The elements of journalism: What newspeople should know and the public should expect (3rd ed.). Crown.
Lazer, D. M. J., Baum, M. A., Benkler, Y., Berinsky, A. J., Greenhill, K. M., Menczer, F., … Zittrain, J. L. (2018). The science of fake news. Science, 359(6380), 1094–1096. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aao2998
Lia, J., Borah, P., Kang, J., Kim, J., Okada, T., Shen, L., & Yang, S. (2024). Does news literacy help combat misinformation? Information, Communication & Society. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2024.2341000
Livingstone, S. (2004). Media literacy and the challenge of new information and communication technologies. The Communication Review, 7(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/10714420490280152
Loomba, S., de Figueiredo, A., Piatek, S. J., de Graaf, K., & Larson, H. J. (2021). Measuring the impact of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on vaccination intent in the UK and USA. Nature Human Behaviour, 5(3), 337–348.
Martens, H., & Hobbs, R. (2023). Media literacy policy in the United States: Current trends and future directions. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 15(1), 1–15.
Marwick, A., & Lewis, R. (2018). Media manipulation and disinformation online. Data & Society Research Institute.
Merrill, M. D. (2020). First principles of instruction: Identifying and designing effective, efficient, and engaging instruction. Pfeiffer.
Mihailidis, P., & Thevenin, B. (2013). Media literacy as a core competency for engaged citizenship in participatory democracy. American Behavioral Scientist, 57(11), 1611–1622. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764213489015
Mihailidis, P., & Viotty, S. (2017). Spreadable spectacle in digital culture: Civic expression, fake news, and the role of media literacies in “post-fact” society. American Behavioral Scientist, 61(4), 441–454.
Molenda, M. (2015). In search of the elusive ADDIE model. Performance Improvement, 54(2), 40–42.
Napoli, P. M., & Caplan, R. (2023). Why media policy is critical in the fight against disinformation. Telecommunications Policy, 47(4), 102–119.
Napoli, P. M., & Caplan, R. (2024). Co-regulation and platform responsibility in the fight against misinformation. Journal of Information Policy, 14(1), 55–72.
Ononiwu, M., Azonuche, T. I., & Enyejo, J. O. (2023). Exploring Influencer Marketing Among Women Entrepreneurs using Encrypted CRM Analytics and Adaptive Progressive Web App Development. International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology, 2(6), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v2i6.562
Ononiwu, M., Azonuche, T. I., Imoh, P. O. & Enyejo, J. O. (2023). Exploring SAFe Framework Adoption for Autism-Centered Remote Engineering with Secure CI/CD and Containerized Microservices Deployment International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology Volume 10, Issue 6 doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST
Ononiwu, M., Azonuche, T. I., Okoh, O. F., & Enyejo, J. O. (2023). AI-Driven Predictive Analytics for Customer Retention in E-Commerce Platforms using Real-Time Behavioral Tracking. International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology, 2(8), 17–31. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v2i8.561
Ononiwu, M., Azonuche, T. I., Okoh, O. F.. & Enyejo, J. O. (2023). Machine Learning Approaches for Fraud Detection and Risk Assessment in Mobile Banking Applications and Fintech Solutions International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology Volume 10, Issue 4 doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRSET
Oyekan, M., & Enyejo, J. O. (2023). Harnessing Data Analytics to Maximize Renewable Energy Asset Performance. International Journal of Scientific Research and Modern Technology, 2(8), 64–80. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijsrmt.v2i8.850
Oyekan, M., Igba, E. & Jinadu, S. O. (2024). Building Resilient Renewable Infrastructure in an Era of Climate and Market Volatility International Journal of Scientific Research in Humanities and Social Sciences Volume 1, Issue 1 doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRSSH
Paris, B., & Donovan, J. (2019). Deepfakes and cheap fakes: The manipulation of audio and visual evidence. Data & Society Research Institute.
Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2021). The psychology of fake news. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 25(5), 388–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2021.02.007
Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2018). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (4th ed.). Pearson.
Roozenbeek, J., & van der Linden, S. (2019). Fake news game confers psychological resistance against online misinformation. Palgrave Communications, 5(1), 1–10.
Simpson, C. (1996). Science of coercion: Communication research and psychological warfare, 1945–1960. Oxford University Press.
Sunstein, C. R. (2018). #Republic: Divided democracy in the age of social media. Princeton University Press.
U.S. Congress. (2022). Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy Act. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
Vosoughi, S., Roy, D., & Aral, S. (2018). The spread of true and false news online. Science, 359(6380), 1146–1151. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap9559
Wack, M., Duskin, K., & Hodel, D. (2024). Political fact-checking efforts are constrained by deficiencies in coverage, speed, and reach. arXiv preprint arXiv:2412.13280. https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.13280
Wineburg, S., & McGrew, S. (2017). Lateral reading and the nature of expertise: Reading less and learning more when evaluating digital information. Stanford History Education Group Working Paper.
Yan, H. Y., Morrow, G., Yang, K.-C., & Wihbey, J. (2024). The origin of public concerns over AI supercharging misinformation in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review. https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/the-origin-of-public-concerns-over-ai-supercharging-misinformation-in-the-2024-u-s-presidential-election.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Scientific Research in Humanities and Social Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
