A Nordic survey on media literacy shows that more work is needed, as young Nordic people find it difficult to keep up with the news.
Comparable data on media literacy in the Nordic countries are now available for the first time, thanks to the Nordic Media Literacy Survey – a new study by the Nordic Council of Ministers, conducted by the media authorities in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Just over 12,000 people in the Nordics took part in the survey. The results show that although media knowledge is good, there are significant differences across age groups.
Vital for resilience and democracy
One-third of adults aged 16 to 44 find it difficult to keep up with the news, while around one-fifth of over-55s do not verify news content they suspect is fake. These examples demonstrate the need for continued investment in media literacy education in the Nordic Region.
“Media literacy is an important component of Nordic societal resilience. By educating children and adults in source criticism and equipping them with the tools to detect fake news and attempts to influence, we can strengthen our resilience and our democracy. This survey is an important step towards being able to improve our analysis of and work with these important issues at a Nordic level going forward,” says Finland’s Minister of Education and Minister for Nordic Co-operation, Anders Adlercreutz.
Overall, the survey shows that the Nordic countries are very similar, despite some differences. The biggest differences are not between countries, but between different age groups.
“Younger people are more digitally savvy, while older people are more knowledgeable about traditional media. Knowledge and understanding of different media types, how they work, and how this can affect content is important for both source criticism and source trust,” says Catharina Bucht, analyst at the Swedish Agency for the Media and project lead for the survey.
Unique venture
The purpose of the survey is to provide a picture of media literacy in the Nordic population and to build a knowledge base to promote media literacy. The survey is the first of its kind and sheds light on knowledge, abilities, and attitudes towards the media.
“The Nordic countries are working actively to promote media literacy. However, we’ve lacked a common basis for assessing people’s actual level of knowledge. Which areas do we need to improve? And what groups need more help than others? This survey helps to shed light on these questions,” says Bucht.
Read the Nordic Media Literacy Survey here
Young Nordic People Find it Difficult to Keep up With the News, a press release from the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Feature image (top) © Adobe Stock.