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WikiJournal of Humanities/Conference Proceedings of EduWiki Conference 2025/Information literacy skills of a conspiracy theorist? The case for an inclusive approach

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WikiJournal of Humanities
Open access • Publication charge free • Public peer review • Wikipedia-integrated

WikiJournal of Humanities is an open-access, free-to-publish, Wikipedia-integrated academic journal for humanities, arts and social sciences topics. WJH WikiJHum Wiki.J.Hum. WikiJHum WikiHum WikiHumanities Wikijournal of Humanities Wikiversity Journal of Humanities WikiJournal Humanities Wikipedia Humanities Wikipedia Humanities journal Free to publish Open access Open-access Non-profit online journal Public peer review

<meta name='citation_doi' value='10.15347/WJH/2025/EDU.06'>

Article information

Author: Daria Cybulska[a][i]

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  1. ↑ Wikimedia UK
  1. ↑ daria.cybulskaAt signwikimedia.org.uk

Abstract


Abstract The starting point of this presentation is an observation - the narrative around building media literacy skills sounds very similar to how conspiracy theorists talk about their approach to research (i.e., check sources, don’t immediately trust what you see, connect the dots, think about who funded the information, do your own research, etc.). This offers a chance to reflect: Are media literacy educators (and Wikimedians) closer than we realize to the conspiracy theorists’ approach to engaging with information? If so, shouldn’t educators examine why we speak in a dismissive way about conspiracists? Further, conspiracists do engage with emotions skillfully. Within Wikimedia, we focus on analytical, intellectual ways of processing information and fighting misinformation. This presentation invites reflection on how we should include an emotional layer in education efforts. Research conducted in 2023-2024 concluded with the recommendation to introduce a social and emotional layer within teaching media literacy (see https://wikimedia.org.uk/w/images/0/09/Information_literacy_of_conspiracy_theorists.pdf ). This is particularly useful to Wikimedians working within communities and institutions, as they commonly have greater latitude to experiment within educational activities and have a more interdisciplinary approach. The presentation also outlines avenues in which non formal educational spaces can create an inviting, nonjudgmental and safe learning environment.

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