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Russian Language Journal

Keywords

Media literacy, social media, heuristics, homophily, populism

Abstract

This article presents ways to teach media literacy (ML) skills in Russian language classrooms with particular focus on developing proficiencies to navigate social media (SM) where information disorder is a critical concern. Because of its numerous configurations and applications, SM is understood broadly as “the creation and exchange of user-generated content.” After outlining critical concerns surrounding SM use, the discussion focuses on three conditions that affect the development of ML skills when trying to engage meaningfully online: cognitive vulnerabilities, unreliable narrators, and populist rhetoric. Developing an awareness of how these three conditions on SM impact decision-making and behavior online equips students with ML competencies that can encourage emotional and social intelligence and increase sensibilities to questions of power when occupied in authentic language learning practice and engaged digital citizenship in Russophone contexts.

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