Using YouTube to seek answers and make decisions: Implications for Australian adult media and information literacy

 Tanya Notley, Sydney (Australia)

 Michael Dezuanni, Brisbane (Australia)

 Simon Chambers, Sydney (Australia)

 Sora Park, Canberra (Australia)

https://doi.org/10.3916/C77-2023-06

Keywords

YouTube, media and information literacy, information literacy, information seeking, social media, adult education

Abstract

This article argues that it is necessary to develop new approaches to media and information literacy (MIL) education to respond to information seeking on YouTube. The article draws on data from a survey of adult Australians (N=3,510), focusing on their media literacy attitudes, experiences, and needs. A subset of this data focuses on respondents who use YouTube to seek information for a purpose. The article interrogates the data to ask who uses YouTube to access information when they need to make a decision; how these adults’ critical dispositions compare to people who do not use YouTube to seek information; and what level of media ability they have compared to other groups. A total of 45% of adult Australians had used YouTube to seek information and make a decision in the month prior to completing the survey. While this group shared a critical disposition towards media and information, they lacked confidence in their own media abilities. We argue that it is necessary to develop new MIL approaches to assist this group. In addition, we argue that this group is more likely to respond to MIL initiatives that are available on YouTube itself and are unlikely to seek MIL learning in community institutions like libraries or community centres.

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Fundref

The research informing this article was funded by the National Association for Media Literacy Education in the United States of America, and supported by the Australian Media Literacy Alliance.

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Technical information

Received: 28-01-2023

Revised: 24-02-2023

Accepted: 02-05-2023

OnlineFirst: 30-06-2023

Publication date: 01-10-2023

Article revision time: 27 days | Average time revision issue 77: 31 days

Article acceptance time: 93 days | Average time of acceptance issue 77: 75 days

Preprint editing time: 200 days | Average editing time preprint issue 77: 182 days

Article editing time: 245 days | Average editing time issue 77: 227 days

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