Literacy Concepts as an Intervention Strategy for Improving Fake News Knowledge, Detection Skills, and Curtailing the Tendency to Share Fake News in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the role of literacy concepts (information, news, media, and digital literacies), as an intervention strategy, in improving fake news knowledge, detection skills, and curtailing the tendency to share fake news among social media users. In doing so, this study used the inoculation theory and message interpretation process (MIP) theory to provide a useful explanation for literacy concept intervention. An experiment was carried out to test the effects of literacy intervention on the treatment group which were later compared with the results deduced from the control group who did not receive any intervention. It was found that participants in the experimental group demonstrated a higher knowledge of fake news, better ability to detect fake news and shared more accurate news articles, as compared to their counterparts who were in the control group. Implications for research and practice were discussed.