Four in five encounter misleading content online
Cillian Ferry
Four in five respondents to a Munster Technological University (MTU) survey reported seeing deliberately untrue or misleading content on apps or websites in the last 12 months.
The research also found that 76% of respondents had experienced hate speech or harassment online during the same period, while 97% had never participated in media literacy training.
In response to these findings, MTU launched a new Digital Media Literacy Open Educational Resource on Friday 9 October, to help learners critically assess online information and understand how digital platforms influence the content they see.
The resource was developed by a cross-disciplinary team of MTU academics, library staff and students, with contributions from experts at other universities. Designed to be open and adaptable, it aims to support learners both within MTU and beyond, with a national rollout planned.
The survey revealed significant concern about the online information environment, with 88.7% of respondents saying they were fairly or very concerned about the spread of disinformation. A further 84.3% expressed concern about the influence of social media companies on the content they encounter.
Meanwhile, 61% said they focus on news they happen to see on their social media feeds. Immigration, health and elections were the topics respondents identified as being of greatest interest in relation to the spread of misinformation.
Dr Catherine Palmer, Mathematics Lecturer at MTU and project team lead, said: “Misleading information is part of the everyday online experience for many people. Four in five respondents reported encountering it in the last year, yet very few have had any media literacy training.”
“How people get their news has also changed. For many, it is something they come across while scrolling, with social media platforms and their algorithms playing a significant role in deciding what reaches them. We need to give people the skills to ask who created that information, what evidence supports it and why it is appearing in their feed.”
“This resource is designed to help learners build those habits and feel more confident assessing what they see. With almost nine in ten respondents concerned about disinformation, there is a clear appetite for support.”
Students from MTU’s Cork and Kerry campuses contributed to the resource through surveys and focus groups. Creative Digital Media student Aoibh O’Tool also features in its videos and produced artwork to promote the initiative. She said: “It is great to see MTU adapting to today’s rapidly changing digital landscape by giving students the skills and knowledge to navigate growing digital uncertainty.”
The project received Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement (SATLE) funding and has support from the Higher Education Authority and Digital Media Literacy Ireland.
Alongside a showcase of the resource and MTU’s wider work on digital wellbeing, stakeholders will participate in roundtable discussions to inform the development of a Digital Wellbeing policy at the university.