It’s official: UNESCO has done the homework, and the results are grim. A recent study reveals just how alarmingly media-illiterate many social media influencers are, especially when it comes to recognising disinformation. This matters more than you might think, because influencers—often self-appointed “experts”—are shaping public opinion, particularly among young, impressionable audiences who look to TikTok and Instagram long before they look to textbooks. For LGBTQ2S+ folks, whose lives and rights are increasingly targeted by misinformation campaigns, media literacy isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a lifeline.
So, how do we protect ourselves and the next generation from the avalanche of disinformation, especially when influencers are often just as misinformed as their followers? Let’s break it down—with a focus on teaching media literacy hygiene tailored to the LGBTQ+ community’s unique needs.
The Scope of the Problem
Social media platforms are a breeding ground for misinformation. Algorithms reward sensationalism, influencers chase clout, and audiences often mistake popularity for credibility. This cycle is particularly dangerous for LGBTQ2S+ communities because disinformation campaigns targeting queer people are deliberately engineered to stoke fear, confusion, and hatred. Think about the “groomer” rhetoric, fake studies claiming trans-affirming healthcare is harmful, or viral posts spreading pseudoscience about queer identities—these lies spread like wildfire, often amplified by influencers with massive platforms.
The UNESCO study shows that many influencers don’t fact-check their sources or understand how their content feeds into broader disinformation ecosystems. And this isn’t just ignorance—it’s negligence, with real-world consequences for marginalised groups.
Practising Good Media Literacy Hygiene: The Basics
Let’s be real: media literacy isn’t about memorising facts or becoming a walking Snopes article. It’s about developing critical thinking skills, asking the right questions, and cultivating a healthy scepticism about the content we consume and share. Think of it like flossing for your brain—routine maintenance that keeps the garbage from piling up.
Here’s how to start building those skills:
- Spot the Red Flags
- Teach kids and teens to recognise common markers of disinformation: emotionally manipulative headlines, unverified sources, or claims that lack citations.
- Encourage them to pause and ask, “Who benefits from me believing this? Why is this being shared now?”
- Check the Source
- Before sharing or believing anything, ask: Who’s behind this content? Are they credible, or are they just repeating something they saw online?
- Websites like Ground News, Snopes, and Media Bias/Fact Check are excellent tools for evaluating sources and identifying potential biases.
- Understand the Algorithm
- Explain how social media platforms prioritise engagement over accuracy. Teach them that the most-shared content isn’t necessarily the most reliable—often, it’s the opposite.
- Normalise Admitting When You’re Wrong
- Encourage acknowledging mistakes as a way to build trust, integrity, and accountability.
Queer-Specific Media Literacy Needs
LGBTQ2S+ communities face unique challenges in the fight against misinformation. Disinformation targeting queer people is often crafted to exploit cultural anxieties, sow division, or fill knowledge gaps with lies. To address these specific needs, media literacy education must:
- Focus on Intersectionality
- Highlight how disinformation intersects with other forms of oppression. For example, anti-trans rhetoric often co-opts feminist language to create division, while anti-queer campaigns weaponise religion or exploit cultural misunderstandings.
- Teach young people to recognise these patterns and question the underlying motivations behind them.
- Amplify Queer Role Models in Media Literacy
- Share examples of LGBTQ2S+ influencers and content creators who prioritise truth, critical analysis, and thoughtful discourse. These role models can inspire younger audiences to value accuracy over virality.
- Develop Community Resources
- Create LGBTQ2S+-specific media literacy workshops or online guides. Organisations like GLAAD and The Trevor Project could partner with educators to create accessible, queer-affirming materials that meet the community where they are.
- Foster Nuanced Conversations About Representation
- Representation in media matters, but it’s not inherently good or helpful. Encourage discussions about how queer representation in media can sometimes be exploited to distract from systemic issues—think rainbow capitalism or tokenism without real advocacy.
How Parents and Allies Can Help
Media literacy education can’t just happen in schools or workshops—it needs to be part of everyday conversations. Here’s how parents, mentors, and allies can contribute:
- Be a Role Model: Fact-check the content you consume and share. Talk about why you’re skeptical of certain claims, and show how you verify information.
- Encourage Curiosity: Celebrate questions, even the difficult ones, and guide young people towards trustworthy sources.
- Advocate for Media Literacy in Schools: Push for policies that integrate media literacy into school curricula. Organisations like Media Literacy Now are actively working on legislation to make this happen.
A Call to Action: Building a Media-Literate Future
Let’s be clear: this is not a problem we can solve overnight. But by weaving media literacy hygiene into the fabric of our queer spaces, schools, and homes, we can cultivate a generation that’s better equipped to navigate a world saturated with misinformation.
Start small. Share this article. Fact-check something today. Call out misinformation when you see it, whether it’s from an algorithm or an influencer. The fight against disinformation is a collective effort—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
For trusted resources to help you build your media literacy toolkit, check out:
- Ground News: A platform that shows how different outlets cover the same story and highlights media bias blindspots.
- Media Literacy Now: Advocacy and resources for integrating media literacy into education.
- Snopes: A go-to site for fact-checking misinformation.
- Media Bias/Fact Check: A database to help you assess media outlet biases.
- UNESCO Study on Media Literacy: The landmark study that reveals the depth of the misinformation problem among influencers.
Remember: media literacy isn’t just about protecting yourself. It’s about protecting your community. And that’s always worth the effort. – TML