*Fahad Salem Alenezi, & Hasan Ahmed Buabbas
Department of Information Studies, College of Basic Education, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Kuwait.
Volume: 17 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 66-85| December 2025 | https://doi.org/10.54940/ss77982049 | PDF
Received: 12/08/2025 | Revised:26/09/2025 | Accepted: 29/12/2025
*Corresponding Author: [email protected]
Abstract
In light of the growing reliance on social media platforms as a primary source of information among Kuwaiti youth, the risks of exposure to fake news have increased, posing both digital and societal challenges. This study stems from the importance of understanding the relationship between the level of media and information literacy among youth and their ability to resist this type of disinformation. The research aims to investigate the impact of such literacy in reducing the spread of fake news among young people aged [15 to 34]. The study employed a descriptive-analytical method and was conducted using two validated questionnaires applied to a sample of 402 Kuwaiti youth partici-pants. The findings revealed a statistically significant inverse relationship between media and information literacy and the sharing of fake news, as the group with higher literacy levels showed less tendency to disseminate misleading information. Moreover, it was found that participants who had undergone educational or awareness programs relat-ed to media and information literacy possessed a greater ability to distinguish between accurate and fabricated news. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating media and information literacy concepts into school cur-ricula and launching effective awareness initiatives to strengthen verification skills, thereby contributing to building a digitally aware society resilient to media disinformation.
Keywords
Media Literacy, Information Literacy, Kuwaiti Youth, Fake News.
How to Cite
Alenezi, F. &Buabbas, H. (2025). Media and Information Literacy among Ku-waiti Youth and Its Role in Combating Fake News . Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Social Sciences, 17(4), 66-85. https://doi.org/10.54940/ss77982049
License
Copyright (c) 2025. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC)