In today’s digital age, where information inundates our daily lives through various media channels, media literacy education has never been more critical. As we navigate a landscape fraught with misinformation and divisive narratives, the ability to discern quality information and make informed decisions is essential. Media literacy education equips individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of the modern media landscape, empowering them to critically analyze, evaluate, and create media content across diverse platforms. Many questions arise about how media literacy works and its effectiveness. To address these questions, we have compiled key resources to demonstrate the importance and impact of media literacy education.

Making the Case for Media Literacy Education

The executive summary below distills the findings from 100 articles on emerging contemporary MLE research between 2016-2024, and highlights top-line findings on the impacts and outcomes of media literacy education. The summary is based on a longer report below, Making the Case: A Landscape Scan of Contemporary Media Literacy Education Research, that further assesses contemporary MLE research.

Five Meaningful Outcomes of Media Literacy Education

From the large-scale analysis of media literacy education research from 2016-2024 above, we have identified five meaningful outcomes of media literacy education. Dive into a summary of each outcome below.

Media literacy education…

Helps people discern information.

Media literacy teaches people to critically analyze and evaluate information, helping them distinguish between fact and fiction. This process includes techniques like lateral reading, which involves checking multiple sources to verify information. Studies have shown that media literacy education improves people’s ability to spot false news and make more informed decisions, enhancing their engagement with current affairs and promoting healthier choices in their personal and civic lives.

Interventions help people make more informed health decisions.

Young people, in particular, are vulnerable to negative media influences. Media literacy education helps them develop critical thinking skills, reducing negative body images and fostering positive self-perceptions. Programs focused on media literacy have been shown to make students more skeptical of advertisements and aware of gender stereotypes, contributing to healthier attitudes and resilience against harmful media messages. Media literacy interventions also support healthier lifestyle choices, such as reduced smoking and tanning bed use.

Helps young people develop healthy mindsets.

Media literacy education encourages young people to critically assess media messages and develop healthy self-perceptions. By teaching them to recognize biases and stereotypes, media literacy fosters resilience against negative body images and harmful influences. Studies have shown that media literacy programs increase students’ skepticism toward advertisements and promote critical thinking about gender roles and media portrayals, leading to more positive self-images and healthier mindsets.

Helps people make sense of the world.

Media literacy education encourages individuals to understand their own biases and view media from multiple perspectives. This deeper understanding helps them make sense of the world and their place in it. By recognizing and challenging stereotypes and appreciating diverse viewpoints, individuals develop empathy and cultural awareness, which are essential for navigating complex societal issues. Media literacy also empowers marginalized communities to contribute to wider societal dialogues, promoting diverse narratives and viewpoints.

Brings learning to life.

Media literacy education makes learning engaging and relevant. It encourages students to take an active role in their education by analyzing and creating media. This hands-on approach helps students develop essential skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and communication, making education more meaningful and empowering them to navigate the media landscape confidently. By involving students as co-creators in their learning process, media literacy education fosters a sense of relevance and engagement, preparing them for the challenges of the 21st century.

The research summarized here represents only a slice of the ever-expanding literature on how media literacy education benefits learners and society as a whole. To learn more about what media literacy looks like in action, see NAMLE’s Core Principles of Media Literacy Education and visit our peer-reviewed academic journal, the Journal of Media Literacy Education. View sample case studies and reports here.