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In an era where information travels faster than ever before, Global Media and Information Literacy Week has zeroed in on one of the digital age’s most significant challenges: the spread of misinformation. Running from October 24-31, 2025, this year’s UNESCO-led initiative adopts the theme “Minds Over AI,” urging global citizens to exercise critical thinking before sharing content online.
The campaign comes at a particularly crucial time for Kenya, where social media platforms serve as primary channels for information exchange, often facilitating the rapid circulation of screenshots, edited videos, and unverified claims.
The United Nations marked the beginning of the week with a message on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the real-world consequences of digital sharing habits. “What we share online can have consequences in the real world, and misinformation can result in people being left uninformed and at risk,” the organization stated.
Accompanying this warning was a five-step verification checklist designed to help users evaluate content before dissemination, focusing on source credibility, origin, timeliness, and personal motivation for sharing.
Kenya’s digital landscape has evolved dramatically in recent years, with platforms like X, WhatsApp, and TikTok becoming integral to daily communication. This shift has created an environment where fact and fiction frequently intermingle, sometimes with serious repercussions.
During past election cycles, manipulated images and fabricated statements contributed to social divisions and political tensions. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic saw unverified health advice circulating widely, leading some Kenyans to avoid vaccination based on false information. These incidents highlight why fact-checking has become not just good practice but a civic responsibility.
The UNESCO theme “Minds Over AI” reflects growing concerns about artificial intelligence’s role in misinformation. Advanced technologies now enable the creation of deepfakes, manipulated photos, and synthetic voices that can be virtually indistinguishable from genuine content, making digital literacy more essential than ever.
Kenya’s increasing internet penetration rate presents both opportunities and challenges. While online platforms democratize information access, particularly among young users, they also create vulnerabilities. A 2022 Stimson Center report identified a “disinformation industry” operating in Kenya, where individuals and social media influencers receive payment to spread false narratives, especially during election periods.
Experts warn that this phenomenon undermines public trust in institutions and media organizations, emphasizing the need for a population equipped with critical thinking skills to navigate an increasingly complex information environment.
Developing verification habits can significantly impact how information flows through communities. For example, when a Kenyan receives a forwarded message about supposed new government taxes, taking a moment to verify this against official Kenya Revenue Authority channels can prevent unnecessary public concern.
The UN-provided checklist offers practical guidance through five key questions: Who made the content? What is the source? Where did it originate? Why are you sharing it? When was it published? These simple inquiries provide a framework for everyday digital interactions.
Kenya has significant potential for multi-sector collaboration to enhance digital literacy. Government agencies, educational institutions, media organizations, and civil society groups could develop community workshops and school programs teaching practical fact-checking skills. Partnerships with international bodies like UNESCO might extend awareness campaigns to rural areas, where misinformation often spreads most rapidly due to limited access to verification resources.
Global Media and Information Literacy Week serves as a timely reminder that combating misinformation begins with individual responsibility. By developing the habit of verification, Kenyans can contribute to building a more informed, responsible, and resilient society.
As digital communication continues to evolve in complexity and reach, media literacy has transitioned from being merely beneficial to absolutely essential for maintaining truth, trust, and accountability in public discourse. The UN’s core message resonates with growing urgency: every piece of content shared online carries the potential to influence real lives and shape social outcomes.
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14 Comments
In an age of information overload, the ability to discern truth from fiction is an invaluable skill. This global media literacy push is a timely and necessary step forward.
Global Media and Information Literacy Week is a timely and much-needed intervention. Equipping the public with the skills to navigate the digital world responsibly is the first step in creating a more informed society.
Raising awareness about media literacy is a crucial step in the fight against misinformation. Kudos to the UN for taking a proactive stance on this issue and providing helpful verification tools for the public.
Agreed. Empowering people to think critically about online content is key to building a more resilient and well-informed digital ecosystem.
Raising awareness about media literacy is vital, especially in places like Kenya where social media is a primary source of information. Equipping the public with the right tools to identify fake news is a step in the right direction.
Agreed. The verification checklist provided seems like a helpful framework for users to critically evaluate content before hitting ‘share’.
Curious to see how this campaign will be received in Kenya. Social media has become such a dominant force in information dissemination there, so this initiative could have a significant impact if implemented effectively.
Digital misinformation can have very real consequences, as we’ve seen. This campaign is a timely reminder for all of us to be more mindful and responsible in our online sharing habits.
It’s encouraging to see the UN taking a proactive stance on this issue. Fostering critical thinking skills around media consumption is crucial for building a more informed and resilient society.
Absolutely. Empowering people to fact-check and verify information will be key to combating the spread of fake news.
Kudos to UNESCO for spearheading this important initiative. Building a more discerning, critical-thinking public is crucial for combating the spread of fake news and its harmful impacts.
The real-world consequences of digital misinformation are alarming. This campaign underscores the urgent need for greater media literacy education, especially in highly connected communities.
An important initiative to combat the spread of misinformation online. We all need to be more discerning consumers of digital content and verify claims before sharing. Fact-checking is crucial in today’s fast-paced media landscape.
Fact-checking and verifying sources should be second nature in today’s media landscape. This campaign is a great reminder for all of us to be more vigilant consumers of digital content.