Navigating Digital Media: Understanding Media Literacy

Information has become so accessible today that many of us begin the day by checking our phones, scrolling through social media, reading headlines or watching short videos. In such a small island nation such as the Maldives, news can spread within minutes, shaping how people understand them.

Yet, we often consume information without asking where it came from, whether it is accurate or how it was presented. The challenge is no longer finding information, but knowing what to believe. Headlines can make opinions appear factual, edited videos can distort events, and statistics can mislead without context.

This makes media literacy increasingly important. It means being able to identify reliable sources, recognise bias and manipulation, understand how media messages are constructed and distinguish information that informs from information designed to influence. In a society where social media is an everyday source of news, critically navigating information is essential.

Reflecting on Our Journey with Technology

Technology has largely transformed our lives. Older generations experienced this transition gradually, having to adapt to new technologies as they became part of everyday life. Younger generations, on the other hand, grew up surrounded by digital devices and platforms.

The shift accelerated with the COVID-19 pandemic, when many aspects of daily life moved online. Since then, the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has added another layer to an already complex digital environment, increasing the importance of acquiring the ability to understand, evaluate and navigate media.

Understanding Media Literacy

At its core, media literacy involves access, analysis, evaluation, critical thinking and content creation. Access means finding and using reliable sources, while analysis involves examining how information is presented, including its framing and what may have been left out. Evaluation means checking sources and evidence, recognising bias, and questioning statistics and claims. Critical thinking allows us to consider different perspectives rather than accepting information at face value. Content creation involves producing and sharing information responsibly while recognising its potential influence on others.

These skills also help audiences distinguish between news, opinion, advertising and political messaging. Understanding what we are consuming, why it was created and whether it can be trusted allows us to make more informed decisions about what we believe and share.

Media Literacy in the Digital World

The shift from traditional media to digital and social media has made media literacy more important than ever. Information now spreads within seconds, while algorithms and information overload make it harder to determine what deserves our attention and trust.

Media literacy encourages audiences to ask:

Who created this? Why? Is the source reliable? What evidence supports it?

These questions are especially important in reporting on conflict, politics and human rights, where language and framing can shape public opinion.

Coverage of the genocide in Palestine demonstrates how framing can influence public understanding. For example, Reuters published a December 2023 report titled, “Israeli ex-hostage says she feared being raped by Gaza captor”, despite the report containing no claim that rape or attempted assault occurred. The Al Jazeera Media Institute criticised the headline, arguing that it could reinforce the Israeli “Hamas rapists” narrative.

Similarly, the Rohingya massacre highlights the dual role of digital media. While journalists used digital platforms to expose atrocities in Myanmar, Facebook was also used to spread hate speech and misinformation against the Rohingya.

These issues are equally relevant in the Maldives, where political claims, economic information and breaking news can spread rapidly online, often without adequate context or verification. Stronger media literacy can therefore help Maldivians assess information critically, make informed decisions and become less vulnerable to misinformation.

The Generational Gap in Media Literacy in the Maldives

The rapid digitalisation of Maldivian society has changed how different generations access, consume and evaluate information. Although younger and older audiences increasingly use the same digital platforms, differences in technological exposure, education, media habits and access to information influence how critically they engage with media.

A 2025 qualitative study, ‘Lost in the Digital Abyss: Exploring the Impacts of Inadequate Media Literacy within New Media Environments in the Maldives’, interviewed 10 participants from urban and rural areas to examine how different generations engage with and evaluate news and online information.

Younger Maldivians, particularly Gen Z, are highly familiar with digital platforms and often use YouTube and Instagram for news and information, with greater awareness of privacy, misinformation and algorithms. However, digital familiarity does not necessarily mean strong media literacy, as they remain vulnerable to information overload, confirmation bias and emotional content. Gen Y tends to navigate both traditional and digital media, while Gen X generally relies more on television and established news outlets and may face greater challenges with rapidly evolving digital platforms, algorithms and AI-generated content.

These findings suggest that media literacy challenges differ across generations. Digital access and familiarity alone are therefore not enough; people of all ages need the skills to critically assess, verify and understand the information they encounter.

Digital Access and the Urban–Rural Divide

Although internet access has expanded across the Maldives, access does not necessarily mean equal levels of digital engagement. Differences in connectivity, affordability, education and technological familiarity affect how people use digital media.

In some island communities, digital platforms may be used primarily for entertainment, while people in Malé and other urban areas may have greater exposure to political discussion, social movements and diverse information sources. The digital divide is, therefore, no longer simply about whether people have internet access, but whether they have the skills and opportunities to use it meaningfully.

Education, Digital Awareness and Cultural Habits

Education plays a key role in media literacy. Without training in source evaluation, critical thinking, misinformation and digital ethics, users may struggle to understand how information is produced and distributed. Younger users may be digitally confident but lack analytical skills, while older users may need support navigating platforms and recognising emerging forms of misinformation, including AI-generated content.

Cultural habits also influence how information is trusted, with people often relying on familiar individuals, news outlets, political figures or influencers rather than verifying claims. Algorithms can further reinforce existing beliefs by repeatedly showing users similar content, limiting exposure to alternative perspectives.

Meanwhile, constant exposure to political disputes, negative news and social media can cause information overload and digital fatigue.

Are Younger Maldivians More Media-Literate?

Generational differences do not necessarily mean younger Maldivians are more media-literate. Younger users may have stronger digital skills but face greater exposure to misinformation, algorithms and online pressure, while older audiences may be less digitally confident but more familiar with traditional news.

Therefore, each generation has different media experiences, vulnerabilities and support needs. To offer better media literacy training to these groups, we first need to identify what kind of support each of them require.

Public Perceptions of the Economy

Cultivation Theory, a media theory developed by George Gerbner in the late 1960s, suggests that prolonged and repeated exposure to media messages can gradually shape how audiences perceive reality.

However, this perspective can underestimate audiences’ ability to think critically. People interpret media through their own experiences, knowledge and values. The theory, therefore, can be criticised for portraying audiences as passive recipients of media influence. It is also outdated for today’s interactive media environment, while the limited number of participants in the original research raises questions about the wider applicability of its findings.

This is where media literacy becomes essential. Audiences can question sources, examine statistics, identify political framing and recognise misleading or incomplete information. Social media may expose people to repeated narratives, but it also provides different perspectives that can challenge them.

Responsibilities of Modern Journalism

Modern journalism is responsible for giving the public accurate, verified and understandable information rather than simply producing content that attracts attention. This responsibility is crucial in the Maldives as well, since news spreads rapidly through social media.

The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act (Act No. 16/2025) was ratified on September 18, 2025, after being passed by the People’s Majlis. The Maldivian government asserts that the law was introduced as a means of strengthening media regulation, promoting responsible journalism, combating false information and clarifying the responsibilities of media outlets. It also dissolved the Maldives Media Council and Maldives Broadcasting Commission, establishing the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (MMBC) as the new regulatory body.

However, public concerns have been raised that the MMBC’s broad regulatory powers could affect freedom of speech and press freedom, discouraging journalists from reporting on sensitive or politically significant issues.

Journalistic responsibility also includes protecting the public’s right to access information. In July 2026, the Criminal Court issued a gag order restricting public discussion of a documentary created and released by a media outlet, raising concerns about access to information and press freedom.

The Responsibility of Society

Media literacy cannot be treated as the responsibility of journalists alone. Audiences are active participants in the news environment. People must question information, compare sources, look beyond headlines and avoid sharing unverified claims. This is particularly important in the Maldives, where the Media Council has previously warned about unregistered websites publishing false information.

Hence, society has a shared responsibility: journalists should make information accurate, accessible and contextualised, while audiences should consume it critically and responsibly. Media literacy should not assume that people are easily manipulated.

Instead, it should empower citizens to question information, recognise misleading narratives and make informed judgements.

Social and Economic Impacts

Media coverage can shape economic anxiety and public trust. Repeated reports of inflation, rising living costs or economic difficulties may increase concern, while inaccurate or exaggerated reporting can weaken trust in both the media and institutions. Economic news can also influence spending, saving, borrowing and investment.

At a broader level, media narratives can affect business and investor confidence by shaping perceptions of economic stability and government policies. Poorly explained or misleading coverage may prevent people from understanding policies that directly affect them, while social media can intensify these effects by rapidly spreading simplified or emotionally charged narratives.

These impacts can vary across generations, as younger audiences are more likely to rely on social media while older audiences may depend more on television or established news outlets. Vulnerable audiences with limited digital or financial literacy may be particularly exposed to misinformation, scams and misleading financial claims, potentially resulting in poor decisions and greater economic insecurity. Repeated misinformation and polarised narratives can also deepen political and social divisions, making constructive discussion of economic issues more difficult.

Recommendations for Strengthening Media Literacy

The research participants suggested that media literacy should be strengthened through continuous, age-appropriate education and public awareness programmes. Schools and universities should introduce critical-thinking skills from an early stage, covering source evaluation, misinformation, digital ethics, privacy and algorithmic influence. Participants emphasised that this education should continue as digital platforms and misinformation evolve.

Programmes should address the needs of different generations. Younger audiences should develop stronger verification and critical-thinking skills, while older audiences may benefit from practical guidance on digital platforms, misinformation and AI-generated or manipulated content. Intergenerational programmes could also encourage younger and older users to support one another in developing digital skills.

Community discussions, small-group workshops and awareness activities through schools, universities, island communities and local institutions are also likely to strengthen media literacy among society.

At the same time, media organisations should strengthen verification, transparency, context and accessibility, helping audiences distinguish factual reporting from opinion and understand complex issues. Greater collaboration between educational institutions, media organisations, public institutions and communities can help build a more informed and resilient Maldivian society.

At the end of the day, media literacy is not about technology—it is about people. In a closely connected country like the Maldives, what we believe and share can affect others more than we realise. We may not control everything we see, but we can choose to pause, question and think before we believe.

In a world where information travels faster than truth, sometimes the most powerful question is simply,

“Is this really true?”