Media Literacy and the Politics of Digital Misinformation

The digital public sphere is undergoing a seismic transformation. Over the past two decades, what began as a promise of democratized access to information has evolved into an ecosystem where truth and falsehood travel at the same speed—and sometimes, falsehood travels faster. The battle for truth in the digital age is relentless and increasingly sophisticated. The erosion of trust in journalism, the fragmentation of shared facts, and the psychological impact of constant exposure to polarizing narratives have created a crisis of epistemic stability. In this climate, media literacy is not a luxury but a necessity for safeguarding democratic values and informed citizenship. Media Literacy and the Politics of Digital Misinformation is positioned at the intersection of technology, politics, psychology, and civic education, offering a multidisciplinary roadmap for understanding and countering the pervasive challenge of digital misinformation. This book extends existing scholarship by integrating cross-disciplinary perspectives, connecting theory with applied solutions, and identifying gaps where further innovation and research are urgently needed. Exploring topics such as independent journalism, Islamic duty of verification, and restoring democratic knowledge systems, this book is a critical academic resource for graduate and doctoral students, journalists, media professionals, educators, policymakers, platform architects, and more.