Digital media literacy skills for university students: A qualitative study

The study aimed to identify the availability of digital media literacy skills among young people, and by studying how focus groups were used; it was found that young university students have these skills to a large extent. With regard to the access skill, the students did not have a problem with access to the internet in general or social networking sites in particular, as they are available on an ongoing basis in addition to the ease of use, and this was demonstrated by what the students mentioned. However, it became clear that there are different interests among young people, some of whom prefer one site over another, due to personal preferences and interests. As for the Analyze, evaluate skill, it was found that all students participating in the focus groups have this skill. All students are careful to believe what is presented to them and verify the information before believing or publishing it. This may be due to several factors, including the social and political conditions that the Egyptian society has experienced in the recent period, and the chaos of ideas and news that followed, which made the recipient take all that is presented to him with caution. It may be due to previous negative experiences with some pages on social networking sites when they spread rumors or false news. He may also return to studying at the Faculty of Mass Communication and developing their critical abilities in all the courses they study.  And  for the skill of creating content, the study revealed that most young people create content through social networking sites, there are those who only publish some purposeful content or comedic or enthusiastic topics, and there are those who publish their ideas and information and their goal is to spread awareness or benefit others or a personal goal like fame. This skill is related to the next skill in Hobbs classification, which is the reflection or application of social responsibility. Where the person finds himself responsible for benefiting others and increasing their awareness, which is evident by revealing the students' goal of publishing or creating media content through social networking sites.