Rethinking Media Literacy 2025

Conclusion Media literacy is pivotal for protecting society from harm and building a digital future where technology benefits everyone. In an era defined by rapid technological advancements, global connectivity and shifting information dynamics, the integrity of information stands as a foundational element of resilient, democratic and rights-respecting societies, but achieving it can seem illusive. While interventions are often reactive and outpaced by the sheer scale and complexity of emerging technologies, the tide is beginning to shift. This report aims to serve as both a challenge and call to action, showing how efforts can be distributed along the information supply chain and create change from the grassroots through to governments. The model presented seeks to reframe how we conceptualize the issue, plan activity, allocate resources and make use of all available levers of influence at our disposal. It can be used to map interventions in a more nuanced and comprehensive manner and, in turn, identify urgent gaps and opportunities for investment, advocacy or partnership across the globe. In doing so, it can enable a more holistic and impactful approach, not only to bolster information ecosystems but to build more inclusive and constructive public discourse. Crucially, it should shift the focus to upstream interventions and ways to anticipate or pre-empt bad actors and efforts to manipulate, rather than purely firefighting after the fact. Strengthening information integrity is not merely about countering threats, it is about upholding and empowering the right to freedom of expression, access to information and meaningful participation in civic life. MIL remains pivotal; however, this report demonstrates how the focus should not only be on education. Rather, a more expansive understanding of MIL is needed, one that encompasses stages across the disinformation life cycle and stakeholders at each level of the socio-ecological model. In this sense, MIL can and must include smarter platform design and governance, enhanced channels of communication with the public, more diverse news media and campaigns that shift community and wider cultural norms. As information environments continue to evolve, investments in MIL must be scaled, diversified and embedded across education, professional development, community engagement and policy initiatives. Above all, these interventions should be unified by a common goal: developing informed, engaged, resilient communities who claim their rights and enact their civic duty in the information space. By championing MIL, we are not only protecting societies from harm, we are affirming our collective commitment to building a digital future grounded in fundamental rights and global public goods. MIL offers a powerful rights and research-based pathway to achieve this goal. By equipping individuals with critical thinking skills, ethical media practices and the ability to navigate a complex digital landscape, MIL empowers people to actively claim their rights and responsibilities in the information society. It supports the development of informed, engaged and resilient communities capable of sustaining democratic principles and inclusive public discourse. As information environments continue to evolve, investments in MIL must be scaled, diversified and embedded across education, professional development, community engagement and policy initiatives. Upholding information integrity is a shared societal endeavour, requiring collaboration across governments, private sector actors, civil society, academia and individuals themselves. Rethinking Media Literacy: A New Ecosystem Model for Information Integrity 39