During 2021-22, KITE organised the digital media literacy programme for 19.66 lakh students and 2 lakh teachers, who were trained to distinguish between fake and genuine news. The goal was to make the public aware of the spread of fake news using digital media. The training was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, classes were streamed on the KITE Victers YouTube Channel during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the second and third phases, teachers were trained on specially prepared modules on the internet in daily life, right and wrong practices on social media, filter bubbles, healthy internet usage, etc. Through this project, all Little KITEs members were able to ensure a basic understanding of cybersecurity and educate their parents on the safe use of mobile phones and the internet, as well as the application of cyber technology.
The 2.5 hours of training focused on 4 sections which included use of Internet in day-to-day life, Social Media requires us, Rights and Wrongs in Social Media and how to prevent spread of Fake News. The false information shared through digital media, the negative impact it creates on society and the verification of the authenticity of information were made part of the training through various ‘Case Studies'. The training also focused on areas such as understanding influence of digital media in information transaction, creating urge towards knowing non-factual interference in digital media and how to react to them in a constructive manner, acquiring technical knowledge in understanding the truth behind transacted messages, developing skills to identify and react to glitches in information transaction through media literacy. It also included specific areas such the meaning and definition of Mis-information and Dis-Information and their impact in society, non-factual and misinterpreting information shared through digital media, social impact of facts presented in an emotional language, authenticity of information etc.
