Every day, young people are surrounded by an enormous amount of information. They scroll through videos, posts, headlines, comments, stories, ads, and messages almost constantly. Health advice appears everywhere online — on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, blogs, forums, and in conversations with friends or influencers. Some of this information can be useful and empowering. Some of it, however, can be confusing, misleading, biased, or completely false.
Because so much content competes for attention, it is not always easy to tell what is trustworthy. Online platforms are designed to keep users engaged, often showing emotional, surprising, or repetitive content rather than the most accurate information. This can make false claims spread quickly, especially when they sound simple, dramatic, or convincing.
That is why media literacy and health literacy matter:
- Media literacy helps question what is seen online, understand how content is created and shared, and recognise manipulation, bias, and disinformation.
- Health literacy helps find, understand, and use reliable health information to make informed decisions about personal wellbeing.
Learning how to navigate online spaces smartly is an essential life skill — one that helps in protecting oneself and others, making informed choices, and thinking critically before believing or sharing health-related content.
See more in Module 1.
