The role of media literacy in the safe use of digital media

The study is considered as prospective research that explored reality by monitoring the concept of Digital Media Literacy, its importance, the extent to which its programs are applied in Egyptian society and the main challenges it faces, and thus outlines a future vision for its role in the safe use of media in the era of digital transformation, it relied on the qualitative approach, by employing the focus group discussion tool with 28 experts.
The study emphasized its importance due to the continuous technical developments and the absence of regulatory rules in the digital media scene, the results showed the absence of digital media literacy programs with specific independent curricula, and the most important challenges it faced are the lack of a specific agreed concept, the weakness of the digital infrastructure, the culture of Egyptian society itself and how it accepts it, and the lack of funding, the results indicated the limited role played by the traditional media in disseminating its standards.
The future vision of its role was to put it within the framework of “Policies for the Rebuilding of the Egyptian citizen” through a “national initiative to raise awareness about it”, the existence of a “national plan” in which all the institutions of society participate, the formation of a “national authority or committee for digital media literacy” whose role is determined in developing strategies and following up on their implementation, holding “a permanent and continuous virtual forum for experts interested in digital media, its impacts and risks”, drawing inspiration from international experiences, the necessity of distinguishing between media education for students as integrated gradual curricula and media literacy programs for the audience, linking media literacy programs to prominent digital media risk issues, relying on experts in its programs, Investing entertainment industry and using influencers and celebrities in raising awareness of the dangers of digital media, and preparing for the new virtual world of Metaverse in its programs including legislation and laws related to information technology and cyber-crimes.