Digitalinformed

Digitalinformed is a term used to describe the state or quality of being informed in the digital age, achieved through reliable digital information, critical evaluation, and responsible use of online tools. It encompasses the ability to locate, verify, synthesize, and apply information obtained via digital channels while respecting privacy, ethics, and the rights of others.

Key components include digital literacy, information literacy, and media literacy; skills for evaluating source credibility; cross-checking information across multiple trusted outlets; understanding algorithmic influences; and making decisions that balance accuracy with privacy and accessibility.

Origins of the term emerged in academic and policy discussions during the 2010s and 2020s as digital ecosystems grew more complex and susceptible to misinformation. It is not a single standard but a flexible concept used in education, journalism, and government to describe aspirational outcomes for individuals and organizations operating online.

Applications of digitalinformed include educational curricula designed to teach students how to assess online information; corporate information governance and risk management; public communications and health information campaigns; and tools or platforms designed to promote transparency and user empowerment in digital environments.

Challenges remain, such as variable access to reliable information, the digital divide, information overload, and algorithmic amplification of misinformation, which can hinder digitalinformed practices. Measuring proficiency across diverse communities is difficult, and privacy concerns may limit data-rich assessments.

See also: digital literacy, information literacy, media literacy, information ethics.