A recent research study conducted by the Coalition Against Disinformation (CAD), an alliance of academia, digital media, and civil society organizations, has unveiled insights into the perceptions and impact of disinformation among university students in Pakistan.
Titled “Perceptions and Impact of Disinformation on Pakistani Youth: How University Students Understand Disinformation,” the study, involving the mass communication and media departments of 10 public and private universities, sheds light on the challenges faced by educated youth in combating the harmful effects of online misinformation.
Surveying 1,043 students nationally, the study reveals that 63% of university students encounter some form of online disinformation on a daily basis. Key findings highlight that 81% of surveyed youth believe social media websites are most prone to disinformation, with approximately 70% identifying Facebook as the most vulnerable platform.
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In terms of perceptions, the study indicates that most students believe disinformation is intentionally spread to manipulate the public and can lead to the propagation of false beliefs. Notably, 62% of students see online disinformation as a threat to democracy and elections.
The study also explores trust levels in online information sources, with approximately half of respondents frequently trusting information from traditional news organizations and government websites. Trust in information from vloggers and celebrity influencers was mostly occasional. However, 60% of students are more likely to engage with content from sources they trust.
A concerning revelation is that less than four in every 10 students claim to fact-check the information they receive online. A third of students were unaware of fact-checking tools, and 41% had never consulted professional fact-checking websites.
Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of Freedom Network, expressed concern over the findings, emphasizing that while youth are worried about false messages, their ability to protect against the harmful effects of online disinformation is limited. The study’s recommendations include introducing media literacy programs at universities and integrating fact-checking modules into higher education curricula. It also proposes national media literacy campaigns to educate citizens of all ages about source verification and the critical use of online information, aiming to empower individuals, especially the youth, to navigate the digital landscape responsibly and counter the effects of disinformation.
