Identifying Automated Accounts on Social Media

Haramya University

• Department of Journalism and Communication
• Lecture Notes for Media and Information Literacy (December 2025)

Introduction to Media and Information Literacy

• Media and information are essential for communication
• Media literacy involves understanding and using media to access information
• Information literacy entails recognizing information needs, locating, evaluating, using, and sharing information
• Digital literacy involves using digital tools to manage information
• UNESCO defines literacy as the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, and compute using printed and written materials.

Definitions and Descriptions of Media

• Media is a channel for transmitting information
• The abundance of media technology makes it challenging to distinguish useful and credible information
• Information is a broad term encompassing data, knowledge, signals, and symbols.

Media Literacy, Information Literacy, and Technology Literacy

• Media and Information Literacy (MIL) combines media, information, and technology literacy.
• MIL is crucial for navigating the influence of media and information
• It is the ability to effectively and efficiently create, use, and share information through mediated communication.

Information Disorder

• Misinformation
• Inaccurate but not intentionally misleading
• Person sharing believes it is true
• Disinformation
• Deliberately false information
• Intent to mislead or deceive
• Malinformation
• Real information used to inflict harm

Key Concepts of Media and Information Literacy (MIL)

• Media messages are constructed, with creators deliberately or unconsciously choosing content, quality, and presentation.
• Audiences negotiate meaning: audience interpretation influenced by their background, experiences, and knowledge
• Media messages have commercial and political implications.

Relationship Between Fundamental Principles of Journalism and MIL

• Journalistic principles emphasize truth, citizen focus, verification, independence, public criticism, and comprehensive news coverage
• MIL emphasizes citizen empowerment, individual verification, critical thinking in information consumption, and public discourse.

Media and Information Literacy in Journalism Education

• Journalism is a discipline of verification, and it's important for journalists to develop MIL competencies
• The rise of misinformation, digital aggression, and other forms of information disorder necessitate a focus on information competency in journalism education.

Monitoring and Moderating Media Messages

• Media can be used to manipulate audiences and influence their content consumption and trust.
• Media literacy empowers people to evaluate information critically and make informed decisions
• Establishing editorial policies and training journalists on critical thinking, verification, and moderation are key aspects of responsible media practice

Internet and Social Media

• The internet is a global network connecting computers worldwide
• Social media platforms facilitate interaction and information sharing within virtual communities, contributing to the broader concept of User-Generated Content.

Information Disorder on Social Media

• Bots and sock puppets spread false or misleading content to influence public opinion and deceive communities

Verification for Fact-Checking

• Fact-checking involves scrutinizing information using various methodologies
• Fact-checking requires careful verification of sources, content, and behavior of actors, as well as applying appropriate contexts for evaluating reliability and authenticity

Working on Sources for Information

• Verification of sources is essential for accurate reporting
• Fact-checking techniques and critical evaluation are employed to determine the credibility of sources.
• Considerations include authorship, motives, publication history, alternative sources, and existing coverage of the topic.