Stay Smart Online: Helping older Australians spot misinformation and find facts
The internet, social media and generative artificial intelligence (AI) have upended the information ecosystem, allowing anyone with a digital device and an internet connection to instantly publish to the world with few guardrails for accuracy, independence, plurality or ethics.
Engagement-driven algorithms and low-effort AI have allowed misinformation to flourish, threatening social cohesion, democratic processes, public health, disaster management, institutional trust, public order and civic debate.
Our research team at the News & Media Research Centre, University of Canberra has developed, pilot-tested and evaluated Australia’s first known empirically-validated media literacy learning resources for people aged 55+.
Media literacy is a proven response to misinformation but, globally, few dedicated tools exist for older people, who are more vulnerable to manipulated, misleading and inaccurate information.
We developed a one-hour short course, offered online and in person to 79 Australians, to determine how effective media literacy education is in reducing the reach and influence of misinformation among older Australians.
Our results suggest that the course is an effective tool for teaching media analysis and evaluation skills, as well as developing their critical thinking capacity, boosting their confidence in navigating online content, and building resilience to misinformation.
Based on the research, an education toolkit, Stay Smart Online: How to spot misinformation and find facts, was developed and pilot tested through libraries in partnership with the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). The toolkit includes training slides and presenter instructions, informational videos, tip sheets, quizzes, promotional flyers and evaluation forms.
We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from library patrons and staff, combined with useful suggestions that were used to refine and improve the toolkit.
The enthusiastic uptake of the Stay Smart Online toolkit shows this project fills an important gap in media literacy resourcing and can be used to strengthen Australia’s misinformation responses to help rebuild social cohesion.
