New research findings released by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) indicate that a sizeable portion of digital content creators, a primary information source for most people, don’t actively do fact-checking.
The survey was conducted among 500 influencers across 45 countries. It found that 62 per cent of content creators share information without verifying its accuracy. It also revealed that 73 per cent expressed interest in receiving training to improve their fact-checking skills.
UNESCO course to tackle disinformation
UNESCO has launched the world’s first global course to empower digital content creators to fight disinformation and hate speech.
Over 9,000 participants from 160 countries are enrolled in the month-long course. It which will teach them how to assess the credibility of information and collaborate with journalists. It will also enable them to identify and report misinformation.
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The course content has been developed in collaboration with media experts and influencers. The course also covers international human rights standards regarding Freedom of Expression and Information.
The survey also highlighted a lack of awareness about the legal frameworks surrounding digital communication. About 59 per cent of content creators were unfamiliar with digital regulations, which leaves them vulnerable to legal issues.
A third of respondents reported being targeted by online hate speech, but only 20 per cent took action by reporting it to social media platforms.
UNESCO course to build media literacy
The global initiative aims to equip creators with tools to source information from various outlets. It also promotes transparency in the content, and fosters collaboration with traditional media.
UNESCO’s ongoing efforts to combat the rise of disinformation include guidelines for digital platform governance and supporting independent journalism.
The course is set to run for four weeks. The course goal is to teach and build a community of content creators that would promote information integrity on a larger scale.
