DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY AND STUDENTS’ SKILLS IN DETECTING FAKE NEWS ONLINE: A STUDY OF ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA UNIVERSITY

ABSTRACT This study has been undertaken on Digital Media Literacy and Students’ Skills in Detecting Fake News Online: A Study of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU). For the researcher to achieve this general purpose, the following specific objectives were taken into consideration: to assess the extent of digital literacy among students in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University; to evaluate students' ability to identify or detect fake news in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University; to explore the problems fake news online posed to students in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University;. The study was guided by Technological Determinism Theory. A quantitative approach was employed. The population of this study was made up of undergraduate students of ATBU who actively use digital media platforms. In gathering the data, a questionnaire was used. The major findings of this study indicated that a majority of students at ATBU have moderate exposure to digital media literacy concepts but face difficulties in critically evaluating online news. Findings also revealed that while some students can identify fake news based on source credibility and content analysis, many rely on peer sharing and social influence, which limits their skills in verification. The findings of this study led the researchers to conclude that although students are active users of digital media, gaps exist in their ability to critically analyze and filter online information. Finally, the researchers recommend that digital media literacy be integrated into the university curriculum to enhance students’ critical thinking and verification skills in combating misinformation.