TEHRAN – Information literacy and media literacy are among essential tools to confront the threats posed by foreign media’s psychological operations during wartime, and to ensure the coherence of the society.

Media literacy is an expanded conceptualization of literacy that includes the ability to access and analyze media messages as well as create, reflect, and take action, using the power of information and communication to make a difference in the world.

According to Javad Taleschi, the head of the Iranian social work media, psychological operations of foreign media can have adverse effects on the society. However, improving information literacy and media literacy in the society, through holding educational workshops, creating contents, strengthening the national media, and monitoring social media will help boost social resistance against the menaces to the society.

Foreign media can carry out psychological operations in different ways, such as broadcasting fake news and rumours, with the aim of demoralizing people and making them feel extremely frightened.

The other way is to distort the facts, and spread incomplete or false news to present an unreal image of the war; they may even fuel ethnic and civil conflicts to disunite the society.

Another strategy is to weaken people’s trust in the government through giving unjustified criticism and spoiling the image of governmental bodies.

Foreign media also attempt to promote foreign cultures and values to weaken national identity of a country. However, media literacy helps people use critical thinking to evaluate information and news, identify the reliability of news sources, and decide if the information is real.

To be able to use media effectively and safely, media literacy skill has to be improved. Media literacy is the skill to distinguish misinformation from truth. It is the practice of taking in media messages and understanding what they are trying to convey, via news, movies, and TV programs, analyzing the information, and making informed decisions. It is the ability to remain critical, thoughtful, and responsible consumers of information.

There are different ways to improve the skill among Iranian families. Media education is one of the best ways. The skill can be developed at schools through holding educational workshops for parents. Creating clear, interesting, educational contents and sharing them via different media will significantly contribute to raising public awareness. 

The national media needs to be strengthened as a powerful, people-centered media to be able to function as a reliable source of broadcasting news. Developing high quality media content based on facts will help maintain public confidence.

Families have to be encouraged to use reliable sources such as books, scientific articles, and specialized websites. They also have to create a safe friendly space where all members can exchange their views and learn from each other.

With the progress of technology and social media, the internet has become an integral part of teenagers’ lives, presenting both advantages and risks. Highlighting the key role of social media in helping a piece of news, particularly fake, and destructive ones, going viral, Taleschi said social media needs to be monitored effectively.

Educating adolescents and parents, and raising awareness of safe online behaviors and dangers will help protect social media users. They need to get familiar with the probable threats; they need to be trained how to face them.

They need to learn to use social media responsibly, and learnnot to share inappropriate contents. The responsible officials should observe the social media, identify improper contents, and remove them. 

Domestic media play a crucial role 

After the 12-day war in June 2025, media played a crucial role. Domestic media, instead of sensationalism, offered a calm and documentary portrayal of civic cooperation and social solidarity unfolded across the nation.

On social media, young people spoke of “rebuilding the country,” not in a material sense, but in a cultural one. This solidarity stemmed from a collective decision: to rely on oneself rather than wait for others.

Unlike in previous years, when there were some gaps between the press and the people, a common language now emerged. Reports and documentaries highlighted the courage of rescue workers, laborers, and teachers — not as propaganda, but as documentation. This convergence between media reality and lived experience helped partially restore internal trust, even as external trust had collapsed.

Internationally, Western media reactions to the attack and civilian casualties in Iran were controversial. Limited coverage, “neutral” analyses, and even occasional justifications quickly drew the attention of independent observers. Critics in the Global South viewed this silence as evidence of a double standard: that human rights matter only when Western interests are not at stake.

According to the UN website, Media and Information Literacy provides answers to the questions that we all ask ourselves at some point.

How can we access, search, critically assess, use, and contribute content wisely, both online and offline? What are our rights online and offline? What are the ethical issues surrounding the access and use of information? How can we engage with media and information and communications technologies (ICTs) to promote equality, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, peace, freedom of expression, and access to information?