UNESCO emphasizes the need for fact-checking training among social media influencers, citing a report that highlights the spread of misinformation on platforms. The organization recommends providing creators with training on fact-checking and journalistic practices to build trust with their audience.
UNESCO’s Recommendations for Social Media Influencers
Importance of Fact-Checking in Social Media
The report highlights the importance of fact-checking in social media, particularly among influencers who have a significant following. By enhancing their media information literacy skills, creators can reduce the spread of misinformation and build trust with their audience.
Urgent Need for Fact-Checking Training
Key Findings from the Report
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Six out of 10 creators do not verify the accuracy of their information before sharing it with the audience.
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Four out of 10 creators cited the “popularity” of an online source as a key indicator of whether it was credible or not.
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Nearly half the creators contacted by UNESCO said they had a partial knowledge of laws related to freedom of expression, defamation, and copyright in their country.
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More than a quarter of the creators were not aware of regulations covering their work.
Recommendations from UNESCO
UNESCO recommends that media and literacy teaching be used to help shape the work of social media influencers. This includes providing them with training on fact-checking and journalistic practices.
Key Findings
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6 out of 10 influencers said they did not verify the accuracy of the information they share before sharing it.
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4 in 10 cited the “popularity” of the information as a key factor in whether it was shared or not.
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Most influencers were under 35 and had up to 10,000 followers on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
UNESCO’s Response
UNESCO has teamed up with the US-based Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas to offer an online course in “how to be a trusted voice online,” which includes modules on fact-checking and creating content about elections or crises. The free, month-long course has already been registered by 9,000 influencers.
Experts Weigh In
Adeline Hulin, a specialist in media literacy at UNESCO, said that some influencers were surprised that their work could be viewed as news journalism. Salomé Saqué, a French journalist and popular “news influencer,” added that many creators were not familiar with journalistic practice and needed to have a better understanding of the impact that their work could have.
Recommendations
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Media and literacy teaching should be provided to help shape the work of online influencers.
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Social media owners should take steps to promote media literacy and critical thinking among their users.
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