Media and Information Literacy as expression of freedom of speech

Let's discuss about media first, social media is the first thing that comes to mind when we discuss media. However, that is not the only thing that can be seen as media since everything you see that contains information, regardless of whether it is true or not, may also be regarded as media. These include telephone, television, radio, printing, digital media, movies, books, magazines, the internet, and newspapers. Second what comes to your mind when it is about information literacy? When you search for it in the internet, information literacy is the capacity to locate, assess, organize, use, and transmit information in all of its varied forms, especially when it comes to circumstances demanding judgment, problem-solving, or knowledge acquisition. Meaning a deep understanding of the context you read, watched, or heard about. But be cautious because not all of this is true. Having a democracy country can give you the rights to choose what you want and need to do, specially the freedom of speech. The freedom of speech is the grant that you can say whatever you want but sometimes people forgot their humanity when it comes to criticizing people.

Today, there is a movement toward using media and information literacy to express one's right to freedom of speech. The media now covers everything, and the generation we belong to is no exception. All of the information comes from the media, and how you interpret it depends on how well you comprehend the context of what you have read, seen, and heard. Anything may now be shared, and all of your information can be put online and made available to everyone. However, you should be aware that not all the material you read or believe to be true—almost all of what you see on the internet these days—is false, or fake news. Mostly these fake news are about medicals like what to do in situations, and you as a reader you have the responsibility to give a benefit of the doubt as you know that not all these information are true. Check the credibility of the source and find out where the information came from if it is a degree holder of that specific aspect, because not all the experience that they share can be convenient to you as they did to them. As the TikTok are rising in social media today, you can see various comments full of hatred and some are compliments to the videos they post or share. We have to be careful when posting and or commenting on videos because the video you post may hurt others, a racism, and/or bullying for others even when commenting you have to think that it is your responsibility to be good, and that is the exchange of having freedom of speech. Maybe it is not that big of a deal to you but it is to others. Some people have a good heart spreading kindness and empowerment to people that really needs it, and it matters more because it increases the confidence in a individual.

Media is broad, you can't control what you will read, seen, and/or heard but you can control your mind and your actions about these new informations. Maybe you have the rights to express your freedom of speech using media and being an information literate, but you have the responsibility to choose whether you use it for good and/or bad. Always remember "Freedom of speech includes the freedom to offend people" - Brad Thor (an American novelist) so be careful. Actions speak louder than words, true, but specific words can be loudest too.

References:

https://skylinecollege.edu/library/informationliteracy/#:~:text=Information%20literacy%20is%20the%20ability,or%20the%20acquisition%20of%20knowledge.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Thor

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-vivo-rvo2&sca_esv=562731675&sxsrf=AB5stBiSMILNRuY90MKLk5IYftecB-XA_A:1693917182691&q=famous+quotes+about+media+being+an+expression+of+freedom&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjY2s-fvZOBAxU12DgGHZHOCagQ0pQJegQIDRAB&biw=384&bih=727&dpr=1.88#imgrc=alM-S65OsfRKoM

https://www.google.com/search?q=different+kinds+of+media&client=ms-android-vivo-rvo2&sca_esv=562741715&sxsrf=AB5stBiPPTQudnlomiu6_MBFXKhS0UQ5Tg%3A1693917721201&ei=GSL3ZOflC_i84-EPv4GH0Ag&oq=different+&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIgpkaWZmZXJlbnQgKgIIADIHECMYigUYJzIHEAAYigUYQzIHEAAYigUYQzIHEAAYigUYQzIHEAAYigUYQzIHEAAYigUYQzIQEAAYgAQYFBiHAhixAxiDATIHEAAYigUYQ0iCLVCnDFifI3ABeAKQAQSYAcMEoAHcI6oBCzAuMy4yLjEuMS41uAEByAEA-AEBqAIPwgIEEAAYR8ICBxAjGOoCGCfCAg0QLhjHARjRAxjqAhgnwgIEECMYJ8ICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgINEAAYigUYsQMYgwEYQ8ICBRAuGIAE4gMEGAAgQYgGAZAGCA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#kpfb-stage=1&kpfb-tattr=&kpfb-kpid=_ISL3ZMWhDoar4-EPudmj0As_35&kpfb-ftype=2&kpfb-ftag=0