Digital Media Literacy: Problems, Practices and Expectations

While having various tools was a necessity in order to read book /newspaper/magazine, to watch television/movie, to listen to music, and to play video games until a few years ago, it is now possible to join all these events simultaneously through just one device depending on developments in communication technologies. These innovations and accessibility make media integrated life style possible, and turn ‘the virtual world’ into real space in which society itself comes into being. Individual, who plays passive parts as viewer/reader/listener in traditional media, however improves his/her position as participant/producer in the new media. At this point, it is crucial to grow responsible people who has heightened awareness, who are critical and who are able to take decisions actively about issues on the new media, as total of changes in medium/instrument itself, consumer/individual and communication style. For this reason, the media literacy that has applied in tradition media such as newspaper, radio and television should be integrated into the new media milieu such as internet, social network and mobile media. In developing and diversifying new media milieu taking active role of individuals, creating awareness regarding tools, making sense of contents and interpreting them in critical perspective are the most significant matters. While printed texts’ literacy is prerequisite for fitting into society, literacy in the present-day new communication media has been basic condition of complete and accurate enlightenment against the intensive information bomb. In this study, the necessity of transformation of the phenomenon ‘literacy’ from traditional to the new media is discussed through the new media literacy applications