New research from Western Sydney University shows that media literacy in Australia is not keeping pace with the rapid advancements in AI, with individuals feeling vulnerable and at risk, potentially creating a new divide across society. 

The Digital News Report: Australia 2024 shows that only 26% of Australians trust news and 18% express trust in news from social media platforms. This is a consequence of the increasing levels of disinformation permeating these media platforms, per the research.

While distrust is high, the report also highlights that the ability to assess media content critically has not significantly improved in recent years. 

The slow growth in media literacy is particularly concerning given the ability of generative AI tools to produce high-quality deepfakes and disinformation, according to the university’s associate professor, Tanya Notley.

“AI certainly makes media literacy more complicated because the expectation is that it's getting harder and harder to identify where AI has been used, she said. “It's going to be used in more sophisticated ways to manipulate people with disinformation, and we can already see that happening."

Combatting this requires regulation, Notley said, and this is happening slowly, as seen recently in the U.S. with the Senate recently passing a bill to outlaw pornographic deepfakes.

However, education to help individuals identify potentially risky, AI-generated material is also essential. The concern is a growing social division over who can develop the ability to become literate with AI-generated material, Notley said.

Younger Australians aged 18-29 show a stronger correlation with higher media literacy skills. Those engaged in higher education or digital-savvy jobs also tend to be more aware of how AI can be utilized and its potential pitfalls. 

Older generations—those with low levels of education and those in low socio-economic environments—are much less likely to have the ability to develop media literacy.

Notley said she was “concerned” with the implications of a growing gap between those who are equipped to navigate the digital landscape and those who are not, especially given the lack of a focused program to address the gap in Australia.

“Australia is one of a few laggard advanced democracies now that has no national strategy. A national strategy for media literacy would provide clear targets and funding to improve these skills across the population," she said.

To address these challenges, the report suggests media literacy efforts should be more accessible and engaging, particularly for adults. 

Online platforms, where misinformation often proliferates, need to play a role in promoting media literacy. 

Additionally, leveraging Australia's public cultural institutions, such as public broadcasters and national libraries, could help reach a broader audience and build trust in media literacy initiatives.