The final stage addresses how disinformation can affect individuals, groups and society at large. Disinformers are adaptive and will continue to exploit loopholes in policy or prevention efforts. It is important therefore to plan for scenarios where such content continues to spread or take up oxygen in public discourse. However, the existence or reach of disinformation should not be mistaken for a set of foregone outcomes. Interventions must focus on creating a stronger feedback loop, so that learnings from previous episodes can inform mitigation and response. This includes measures to undermine disinformation already in circulation and safeguard those affected. 4.5 Post-consumption (influence and impact)Marketplace Strengthen in-platform safety features and user controls – for example, to limit screen time or order newsfeeds based on chronology. Allow consumers to withdraw consent for targeted advertising or the sale of their personal data to third parties. Ensure recommender algorithms do not produce a “rabbit hole” effect, whereby engaging with disinformation funnels users towards more content of this nature. As sources of information – including local news outlets and independent journalism – continue to shrink or disappear, the information ecosystem grows more vulnerable as, in a market, competition fuels better products. This erosion not only weakens the marketplace of ideas but also undermines the context and credibility needed for media literacy efforts to succeed. Recognizing this reality, media literacy interventions must adapt by equipping users to critically evaluate the information landscape as it is, while also supporting efforts to revitalize or reimagine public-interest information infrastructure in both digital and offline spaces. Supply Publish profiles on the actors behind disinformation campaigns, including their known tactics and suspected motivations. Invest in public databases of fact-checks and debunking mechanisms, alongside enhanced tools for reporting and “trusted flagger” schemes. Develop stronger legal frameworks that tackle disinformation in a fair and proportionate manner, grounded in human rights and a nuanced assessment of harm. Improve support and redress mechanisms for those victimized by disinformation, including digital safety and security training. Arm high-trust communicators with the knowledge and resources to compete in a saturated information space. Demand Conduct in-depth research to assess how people encounter disinformation in their everyday lives and its corresponding effects (e.g. on perceptions, attitudes and behaviours). Produce robust studies that quantify how such content can cause observable harm (e.g. mobilization to violence, threats to public health, disruption to emergency response or democratic processes). Adapt education materials and provision in line with these trends, in particular the emergence of new technologies. Rethinking Media Literacy: A New Ecosystem Model for Information Integrity 21

Rethinking Media Literacy 2025