How is 'digital literacy' best defined?

The concept of 'digital literacy' encapsulates a broad spectrum of skills essential in today's technology-driven world. Defining digital literacy primarily as the ability to evaluate information in digital formats highlights the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to discern credible information from unreliable sources. In a landscape overflowing with digital content, users must not only access information but also assess its relevance, accuracy, and reliability.

The ability to effectively use technology is certainly a component of digital literacy, but it does not encompass the full scope. Digital literacy involves understanding how to navigate digital environments and also includes the critical competency of evaluating the information those environments present. This evaluation process is increasingly important in an era where misinformation can spread rapidly online, thus distinguishing digital literacy from basic technological proficiency.

Additionally, while creating visual content and reading in multiple languages are valuable skills, they form only subsets of the broader digital literacy framework. Engaging with information critically and effectively is foundational for digital citizenship and effective participation in the digital world, making the evaluation of information in digital formats a core aspect of what it means to be digitally literate.