全球智库信息集成服务系统

• Roughly two-thirds of secondary social studies teachers reported at least moderate emphasis on media literacy in their classrooms, compared with fewer than half of elementary teachers.
• Majorities of teachers reported that, beyond their own classrooms, their schools emphasized media literacy and responsible internet use to at least a moderate extent.
• Majorities of elementary and secondary teachers expressed the belief that schools should provide instruction on responsible social media use.
• Most secondary teachers reported that students made unfounded claims and shared hateful social media posts in the most recent month.
• Both elementary and secondary social studies teachers reported concerns about unhealthy amounts of media use among their students.
• Roughly nine in ten secondary teachers indicated that "inability to evaluate the credibility of online information" was a problem, with four in ten rating it as a major problem.

Public schools that serve kindergarteners through 12th graders can play a key role in combating Truth Decay by supporting students' civic development and engagement. Media literacy instruction is one way that schools can do this. Assessments of American students' media literacy capabilities have shown that large majorities lack the knowledge and skills needed to interpret media accurately. This Data Note examines public-school social studies teachers' reports regarding how they and their schools promote media literacy and the appropriate use of media by students. It also summarizes teachers' perceptions of challenges associated with media literacy and use. This Data Note is intended to provide a broad, nationally representative view of how social studies teachers and schools reported addressing (or planning to address) media literacy and media use in fall 2019. These data can help policymakers and education leaders understand how the nation's schools are addressing these topics, the extent to which these practices vary across different types of schools, and the supports that teachers might need in order to provide effective instruction in this area.