Combating Information Disorder Through Social Media Literacy—A Libyan Perspective

Libya’s widespread use of social media amid political instability and educational deficits has exacerbated challenges related to information disorder, with profound implications for democratic stability, security, and privacy. This study explores strategies to build resilience by increasing social media literacy (SMLit) among Libyans. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted 12 interviews with experts from government agencies, NGOs, media outlets, and fact-checking organizations. Building on the Social Media Literacy (SoMeLit), Communities of Practice (CoP) and Theory of Change (ToC) frameworks, we show how enhanced SMLit can address various factors fueling information disorder. Our findings emphasize fostering a culture of social responsibility, integrating media and information literacy into education, strengthening fact-checking initiatives, fostering stakeholder collaboration, and addressing technological and legal challenges. By synthesizing expert insights with the aforementioned theories into an integrated framework, our research promotes enhanced SMLit as a pathway to a more informed and resilient society in Libya and beyond.