Media and Information Literacy: Critical thinking skills to make informed decisions

This week, the world turns its attention to a topic of vital importance in our interconnected digital age — the ability to think critically about the sources we rely on, to question the invisible algorithms that shape our online experience, and to make informed decisions in a media environment increasingly driven by automation and artificial intelligence (AI).

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Under the banner of Global Media and Information Literacy Week (Oct. 24-31), the UNESCO is spotlighting the theme for 2025, “Minds Over AI — MIL in Digital Spaces.”

Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is not a mere addendum to education—it is foundational. According to UNESCO, MIL “encompasses various competencies that enable individuals and groups to navigate today’s information and communications environment. It covers a large spectrum of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to better search, access, critically evaluate, use and contribute to information and media content.” In other words, it is about understanding our rights and responsibilities in the media landscape, about distinguishing between content that informs and content that manipulates, and about participating actively and responsibly in our information society.