The relationship between media literacy and the level of acceptance of rumors among social media audiences
Document Type : Scientific-Research Article
Authors
1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Communication Sciences, UAE Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Communication and Media, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Member and Director of the Department of Social Communication Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Research Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between media literacy and the level of acceptance of rumors among social media audiences. The research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive research method. The statistical population of this study consists of all active members of Instagram and Telegram social networks. To select the sample, quota sampling method was used and 360 people were selected as the sample. Field and library methods were used to collect data and the tool used was a questionnaire. Ghorbani, Newsha and Shaterian (2016) Media Literacy Questionnaire, which measures the three components of diversity and skills of use, collection and production of information and critical view, and Kim and Buck Rumble Acceptance Questionnaire (2010) with 5 transfer factors Rumor, reasoning, negative emotions, source credibility, belief formation were selected. Content validity was used to determine the validity of the research instrument and Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. In order to analyze the collected data, descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, variance and standard deviation) and inferential statistical tests (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, one-sample t, Pearson correlation, regression, one-way analysis of variance) were used. Action was taken. The results obtained from data analysis showed: The media literacy of virtual network users is average; the acceptance rate of rumors is above average; there is a significant and inverse relationship between media literacy and its components with the acceptance of rumors among users and shows the coefficient of determination obtained. About 35% of the changes in the acceptance of rumors among users are due to their lack of media literacy; among the components of media literacy; all three components have the power to predict the acceptance of rumors, the diversity and the skill of using, gathering and producing information and the critical eye.
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