News in detail

Media Use

Media competency is a complicated issue. At least that’s what one study from the United Kingdom has shown. According to the Ofcom-Studie, not even half of British 12- to 15-year-olds are able to differentiate between Google ads and search results.

Even though many teens are capable with technology, the study has shown that they often have trouble evaluating content on the Web. Twenty percent of British youth thus believe that any information spit out by a search machine must be true.

Therefore, youngsters need help to boost their information competency. Alongside search results they also ought to recognise advertising in apps, manipulated photos and how to judge fake identities.

On the bright side however, teens are more critical when it comes to social networks. Ninety percent of British teens say they don’t believe everything they encounter on social networks.