The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says it’s in the final stages of drafting a guideline for the regulation of digital platforms to address the challenges of fake news, misinformation and disinformation threatening global peace.
The UNESCO’s Director, Abuja Office, Diallo Abdourahamane stated to commemorate Global Media and Information Literacy Day with the theme ‘’Youth, MIL, Digital Space, and Nigeria’s Transformation.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation in collaboration with UNESCO and other critical stakeholders.
Mr Abdourahamane said over 60% of the world’s population in 2023 sought to find answers to their questions on digital platforms, a situation which has brought enormous challenges on global democracies with proliferation of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
”Digital networks have become the preferred platforms for expression, protests and interactions forming a global village. In 2023 it is estimated that 60% of the world’s of 475billion people have expressed themselves, informed themselves, asked questions on digital social networks.”
Mr Abdourahamane who represented the Director General of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azouley said the guideline on regulation of digital platforms would help promote critical thinking and moderation as well as safeguard global democracies.
Supporting the UNESCO’s guideline on regulating digital platforms, the Director ICT in the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Comfort Ajiboye maintained that though the digital platforms have brought development to the country, they were fast becoming a threat to the country’s peace and security as most users were now vulnerable to disinformation and fake news.
Mrs Ajiboye who was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Information and National Orientation who was represented by the Director ICT in the Ministry, emphasised that it was time stakeholders intensified efforts to instill media and literacy skills in Nigerians particularly the youth, most of whom he said, have been hiding under the guise of freedom of speech.
”MIL is essential for building a more informed and resilient society. Media and Information Literacy skills teaches us how to evaluate the credibility of information, identify misinformation and disinformation and think critically about the content we consume and share.”
On his part, the Secretary General, NATCOM UNESCO, Dr Olagunju Idowu was of the opinion that it has become imperative to empower the youth with media literacy skills as they hold the key to the country’s socio-economic development.
Nigeria hosted the 11th anniversary of Global Media and Information (MIL) Week in 2022 where stakeholders worldwide unwaveringly reaffirmed the urgency of advancing global financing for MIL development to strengthen people’s access to media and information literacy competencies, thereby fighting against disinformation and building trust.
At the occasion, the global community signed the now famous Abuja Declaration which
highlights progress made in advancing media and information literacy for all to build people’s resilience to the challenges of the new information and digital ecologies while helping them to capitalize on the many opportunities.