ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2022) – French citizens can learn how to protect themselves from false and misleading information on the internet thanks to a new app-based program from MediaWise, the social-first digital media literacy initiative of the nonprofit Poynter Institute.
With support from Meta, MediaWise launched a 10-day WhatsApp course to help slow the spread of online misinformation in France. The fact-checking training teaches people of all ages how to responsibly engage with the content they see and share across the internet and social media platforms. France is the fourth country to join MediaWise’s international expansion that aims to combat global information disorder alongside Spain, Turkey and Brazil.
“Empowering people to help them to think critically about the media and the information they see is key to ensuring more informed decisions,” said Anton Battesti, Meta’s Head of Public Policy France. “In the run-up to the French presidential and legislative elections, we are delighted to partner with Poynter and our fact-checking partner France 24 to deploy the MediaWise program in France which enables every WhatsApp user to access high-quality resources and tips to spot misinformation and develop into active consumers of information.”
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