Digital literacy is one of the most searched topics of recent times. In this article, we will talk about everything about digital literacy. If you are ready, let's embark on the endless journey of the digital age together. Here are all the details about digital literacy...

What is Digital Literacy?

Today, digital technologies are advancing at a dizzying pace and increasing their importance in people's lives day by day. Smart devices, online platforms and social media mean that we are in constant contact with technological devices throughout the day. As such, it is very important to keep up to date and adapt. However, in the new generation digital age, although access to information is becoming easier, it is also becoming more difficult to evaluate its accuracy. The evolution of the world to digital shows its effect in almost every field today.

How well do you know what the digital technology age has to offer? Or have you ever questioned whether the information on online platforms is accurate? Here are all the details about digital literacy...

Digital Literacy

The concept of literacy is characterized in the literature as a person or persons with the skills of reading, writing, comprehension and interpretation. Thanks to the combination of these four combinations, information can be easily accessed. However, as technology advances, the concept of literacy is facing various threats. While online platforms make information accessible to everyone, they also pave the way for the rapid spread of unverified information. This is a major threat factor for people who want to access accurate information. This is where a very important concept comes to the fore: Digital literacy. So what is digital literacy? Who can be digitally literate?

Digital literacy encompasses all the basic knowledge and skills needed to be online, to access the right information through search engines, and to analyze the information accessed. In today's digitalized world, having these skills is an important step in becoming a conscious user. Taking precautions against virtual threats that you may encounter in almost every field from education to art, from art to finance is a necessary element of being digitally literate. The most important factor in the realization of many actions on smart devices, search engines or any other platform is to have digital literacy skills.

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What are the Stages of Digital Literacy?

In order to become digitally literate, it is best to categorize basic knowledge and skills. There are basically 3 stages. These are correct use, understanding and production. Let's discuss these 3 stages in more detail in the rest of our article.

1- Correct Use

As the demand for smart devices increases, new versions are released. With updates, the device becomes more equipped and thus the area of competence increases. What is important at this point is the extent to which individuals use the devices correctly. Keeping up with digitalization and mastering new add-ons will reveal your connection with digital technologies. Based on some technical information, the person's competence in digital technologies is examined. The main purpose here is to determine the person's competence to use technology. Mastering all kinds of hardware information, using search engines correctly, using various interfaces to access the source of information can be given as examples of correct use, which is the first stage of digital literacy.

2- Understanding What is Used

The way to use digital technologies correctly is through understanding. Being able to analyze the information we encounter in the digitalized world is the most critical point of the understanding process. Being able to control smart devices and manage online platforms is the main purpose of the comprehension phase. As a result of a word searched on social media or search engines, we are faced with an unlimited flow of data. What is important at this stage is to reach information where the content and information can be reconciled. The ability to understand will make the right information more accessible and developable.

3- Producing and Sharing

The last stage of becoming digitally literate is the ability to produce, which is the result of correct use and understanding. The main condition for this process to continue effectively is to be able to produce original content. In this way, you can produce content and publish it on online platforms. The way to reach the targeted point in digital media is to complete these three steps correctly.

Why Digital Literacy Matters

The importance of digital technologies in human life is increasing day by day. It is almost impossible not to be influenced by this rapidly developing technology. We can now access any information we want within seconds through any channel. What is important here is for what purpose and how you use technology. Personal development, education, agenda, magazine, shopping, business, finance, travel... Whatever the subject is, it is now a single button to access the desired information and meet your needs. However, it is necessary to be digitally literate in order not to encounter threatening elements in this virtual world and to reach the result with reliable steps. Every transaction made in this virtual environment is systematically recorded and creates a secure infrastructure for the next transaction. Today, every content produced in digital environments or every transaction made from smart devices is associated with having digital literacy skills.

Today, we can access billions of information at the same time through search engines. Being able to distinguish conflicting sources within these platforms, accessing proven information, or critically assessing the reliability of any existing information is very valuable in terms of digital literacy. What is important here is that the individual has sufficiently developed himself/herself to become a conscious consumer. For this, you should first master the correct use of technological tools and not fall into the trap of contradictory information. Although the measures taken to protect personal information face various risk factors in today's world, their spread will decrease as the number of literate people increases.

Staying behind the times and putting a gap between you and digitalization will cause you to become a prisoner of misinformation. Being active on digital platforms will allow you to keep up with the times and improve yourself against potential risks. Remember, the way to be a conscious user is to always be open to innovation!