Critical thinking in media consumption

 Critical thinking is a key component of news media literacy.It helps an individual to determined accuracy and credibility of news sources. The media has become one major source of information to the public and it is not handled by just an individual or media house but rather common and accessible to everyone who want to access it. This has become an influence to the spread of wrong information to the public. The media can educate,pollute, inform and also destroy.


This is why it is very important to have to have a critical thinking skills in order not to consume and spread wrong informations. Wrong informations are being spread many times but with critical thinking, it will help us to know if the source of information is credible or not.


In 2019,there was a false information which circulated  on social media that,MTN Ghana will close the Mobile Money business which will result in blocking every Mobile Money account. Some mobile money users who believed this wrong information went ahead to withdraw all the money they have in their accounts.When the due date came and they saw that none of the accounts have been blocked and the Mobile Money business not closed too. 

In 2020,during the pandemic and before the lock down,there were safety measures and precautions given to protect ourselves from the virus including using alcohol based hand sanitizers. This information was understood wrongly by some people ,that we should drink  more alcohol to make our systems strong to fight off the virus. Some media houses took this and was making fun with it including making video skits with it .Some citizens took it personal and was drinking alcohol (akpeteshie,local gin) every morning.This information got to the Ghana health service (GHS) and came out to make it clear to the general public that, drinking alcohol will not help to fight off the virus but will rather make the immune system weak and won't be able to fight off the virus.

Information spreads faster  which is why it is important to have a critical thinking skills when consuming information online. Importance of critical thinking is below

1.it gives comprehensive understanding and reasoning with regards to the materials available for scrutiny in the different forms of media and information

2.It is vital to the safety ,security, health and well being of individuals and communities.

3. It builds self empowerment and confidence.

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