Development of critical thinking and media literacy as a basis for the formation of safety culture of future digital specialists

The article is devoted to the study of the key role of critical thinking and media literacy development in shaping the security culture of future digital professionals. In the context of the rapid spread of information technology and the growth of cyber threats, the ability of specialists to analyse information, assess its reliability, detect manipulation and consciously use media resources is becoming particularly relevant. The article examines the essence of the concepts of ‘critical thinking’ and ‘media literacy’, analyses various approaches to their definition in the scientific literature. The author emphasises the interconnection of critical thinking with creativity and creativity, which allows generating new ideas and considering problems from different perspectives. Important criteria for critical evaluation are presented, such as the adequacy of the value judgement, which depends on the relevance of the conceptual ideal, verification of assumptions, logical argumentation and consideration of the context. Particular attention is paid to common mistakes in the process of critical thinking, such as violation of factual accuracy and ignoring the context, which lead to false conclusions. The author substantiates the need to integrate the development of critical thinking and media literacy into educational programmes for future digital specialists as a fundamental basis for their professional safety. The conclusion is made about the importance of developing their ability not only to consume, but also to critically evaluate and safely use digital information, to counter disinformation and cyber threats. The directions of further research aimed at developing effective integrated curricula in this area are indicated.