Beyond the Infodemic Building Social Media Literacy among Students and Teachers in India

Social media is here to stay. Limiting its use is neither feasible nor desirable in an increasingly digital society. What is both possible and necessary, however, is ensuring that students and educators are equipped with the skills to navigate digital spaces safely, critically and responsibly. The evidence from InfoSuraksha shows that structured social media literacy programmes can lead to meaningful improvements in knowledge, confidence, and behaviour among both students and teachers. When provided with the right tools, learners are better able to evaluate information, verify sources, and make informed health decisions, while educators are empowered to guide and model responsible digital engagement.

Looking ahead, strengthening social media literacy must be viewed not as a supplementary activity, but as an essential investment in public health resilience. By embedding digital and media literacy within education systems, India can better protect young people from misinformation, enhance trust in credible health sources, and support healthier online and offline behaviours.

With informed users at the centre, initiatives like InfoSuraksha demonstrate a clear path forward: one where digital engagement supports, rather than undermines, individual wellbeing and collective public health outcomes (22).