This note provides a summary of workshop discussions exploring the potential of information literacy to build adult community resilience to disinformation during health emergencies.
The workshop was jointly hosted by the Royal Society, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and Wikimedia UK on 27 and 28 November 2023 at Carlton House Terrace and Broadcasting House, following the Society’s report The online information environment: Understanding how the internet shapes people’s engagement with scientific information, published in January 2022.
Discussions focused on the role of information literacy in addressing scientific disinformation, particularly among adult populations outside formal education, and especially minority ethnic groups who were disproportionately affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The workshop also considered how approaches to adult information literacy must evolve in light of the growing challenges of AI-generated disinformation. The note presents a range of ideas for further action and research, informed by lightning talks and breakout sessions, and highlights areas where investment in lifelong learning could strengthen the UK’s public resilience to harmful online content.