The Relationship between Media Literacy and the Ability to Detect Fake News in COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Following the increase of false news about the COVID-19 disease and the psychological and social effects that have resulted, detecting fake news during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the critical things that can be effective in this field. Therefore, the current study investigated the relationship and role of media literacy in predicting students' ability to detect fake news during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was applied using a descriptive survey method. The statistical population of this research consists of all the students of Razi University; 371 students were selected as the sample population by stratified random sampling. A standard media literacy questionnaire with 20 questions was used to collect data and a researcher-made questionnaire on the ability to detect fake news in the COVID-19 pandemic based on the eight components of the IFLA notification in 34 questions. The results showed that the level of media literacy and the ability to detect fake news during the COVID-19 pandemic is average. Media literacy, with a correlation coefficient of 0.56, has a positive and significant relationship with the ability to detect fake news during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, with a path coefficient of 0.64, the predictive power detects fake news in the COVID-19 pandemic more than students. Training and measures should be taken to improve students' media literacy skills and increase their ability to deal with fake news.

Keywords

• fake news
• covid-19 pandemic
• media literacy
• student
• razi university