Conceptualizing political information literacy among young people: A systematized review of the literature

Abstract

Political Information Literacy (PIL) is a vital and essential set of skills pre-dominantly discussed in Library and Information Studies disciplines. PIL is necessary to navigate the convoluted political information landscape, including the threats to democracy and the spreading of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news. Having PIL is especially crucial in adolescence and young adulthood as these are prime phases where young people shape their beliefs and attitudes and learn about their political and civic lives. Understanding what it means to have PIL is essential so that educators and practitioners can teach and assess PIL, resulting in young people being able to understand, analyze, critique, and make informed decisions on political information. This systematized review sampled 99 journal articles and conference papers from seven databases in the disciplines affiliated with the social sciences published between 2006 and 2022. The paper discusses how different factors shape and contribute to or hinder young people’s political knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy as they navigate political information. This work sheds light on findings from various countries and a diverse age range of young people in various life stages (13–35). It highlights populations that may have been excluded and provides potential questions that can be further investigated.