The impact of fake news in politics towards Gen Z’s digital media literacy

The emergence of social media platforms has significantly shifted the landscape of communication and interaction, especially within the context of digital media literacy. In Malaysia, the absence of regulation on these platforms has allowed for the unchecked dissemination of misinformation, causing society to rely more heavily on social media for timely political updates in a rapidly changing political landscape. Individuals from Generation Z, typically between 18 and 27, are immersed in a world shaped by digital connectivity. However, there is still uncertainty regarding their capacity to assess misinformation on social platforms and their overall proficiency in navigating digital media. This research, informed by self determination theory, employs a quantitative methodology, utilizing non probability convenience sampling from 391 respondents residing in the Klang Valley. Findings indicate that factors such as exposure to fake news on politics, knowledge on politics, civic education and critical evaluation skills significantly impact Gen Z's digital media literacy. There were significant relationships between fake news on politics, knowledge of politics, civic education, critical evaluation skills, and Gen Z’s digital media literacy. The findings indicate that Gen Z critically interacts with digital content, however, there is a pressing need for further research and education to prepare them to confront misinformation and engage actively in democratic activities.