WEAPON TO ILLITERACY

PAMELA JAMAICA M. MENDOZA

The 21st century has significantly changed the means by which individuals can acquire information they needed. Advance technology means you can search an information you are looking for, and you can get an answer in a span of few seconds. That's how powerful technology is. Students gain new information and knowledge on a daily basis through media in all forms. In light of this, there are times that we may feel being inundated with new information.

It is essential to develop 21st-century skills like creativity, collaboration, and good communication, as well as digital literacy through media, information, and technology. Digital and Media Literacy equips individuals with the ability to think critically about information and how to use it effectively. It also allows individuals to demonstrate their capability to make well-informed decisions, and the ability to recognize the difference between fake and real news.

With the booming of social media, we became netizens without weapons. Technology has developed but we weren't successful in keeping up with it properly. We used it as a tool but we ended up being so dependent on it. It became a part of our daily lives but we know so little of the rules it has and the extent of our roles to play. Through media and literacy, it also prevents people from committing illegal acts such as plagiarism. In addition, we became not only more informed readers and listeners of the media we consume, but also more responsible creators of the media we produce, I hope that as the world continues to progress, we become more responsible regarding the media and information we consume. Let's make the world safer and combat fake news in the most effective manners we can.

As what kuya Kimn says, "lamang ang may alam." We don't need to go far, here in the Philippines, one of the top countries that are actively using online platforms, we lack media Iiteracy. We only continue to consume but are not mindful of what we consume. This media literacy has given birth to the normality of plagiarism and copyright infringement here in our country. The individual people are not the ones to be blamed they are just the victim of this system. Hence, we must integrate media literacy more not just in our schools but in the larger community or society as well. We should not just lecture the children but every citzen from different age groups for we all use technology There is so much to be analyzed behind the reason why we are not literate when it comes to media but this must be studied more so we can develop strategies and solutions that cater to our people's awareness needs.

-oOoTHE AUTHOR IS TEACHER I AT GRACIANO PAULE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LUBAO EAST DISTRICT