Media Literacy and Media Education: How to Master a New Paradigm of Civilization

Abstract

We are witnessing a new dimension of the Internet development. The question is, at what age and to what extent children are capable to acquire basic communication skills Internet era. This paper considers the issue of media literacy and media education as a way to education of the young generation and a better understanding of media content. The article describes a new paradigm New Millennium – New Media – New Forms of Personal and Mass Communication as reflected in the behavioural patterns of the current young generation, including a survey of perception and use of the Internet by children in Slovakia. Particular attention is paid to media education and media literacy in some European countries. As for our research, we aimed at the study of nowadays communication tools and behaviour in the online environment younger school age (8-10) in Slovakia. The research was implemented on the sample of 1452 children. Not surprisingly, that children younger school age have the basic digital skills and are able to communicate in virtual space. The three most important things without which all the pupils not imagine their lives are in this order: TV, internet and mobile. Quite surprising is the finding that younger school age children are familiar with social networking and their active use every fourth schoolboy! In personal communication with friends we discovered new phenomenon in this age group a virtual meeting.