In this workshop series we’ll discuss the importance of media literacy for navigating the 21st century. Being media literate is a prerequisite for thriving in today’s world. Once it was enough to understand the words, but now it’s crucial to know what the messages are telling you, who wrote them, and what are they trying to do. In these sessions participants will learn how to define and understand media literacy, grasp its importance for thriving in a digital world, and spot misleading and false information from far away.

Session 9: Why do we believe the things we do? Confirmation bias, social trust, and media filter bubbles

Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to convince someone that their beliefs are wrong even if the facts say otherwise? In this session we will explore the ideas of confirmation bias and social trust and discuss media filter bubbles, defined as a state of intellectual isolation due to website filters and algorithms. 

Led by Joe Crescente, the Media Literacy Fellow, media professional, university instructor, and writer.