Democracy matures through the proper exercise of sovereignty by its citizens, and truthful information is a fundamental prerequisite for this. Citizens acquire information through media, which has evolved from print and broadcast media to the era of internet-based AI media. In this ‘age of citizen journalism’ anyone can create internet-based social media platforms, enjoying freedom of expression without being controlled by any authority. However, this also necessitates rigorous adherence to media ethics, which is often lacking in reality. The rise of disinformation and deepfake crimes underscores the critical need for media literacy skills to identify and discern truthful information. Developing these media literacy competencies from adolescence is particularly effective. With the introduction of voting rights at 18, high school seniors now participate in elections—the hallmark of democracy. The ability to critically evaluate and filter disinformation and deepfakes depends on rational reasoning. This study proposes a novel approach to fostering rational judgment skills in youth media literacy education: the integration of philosophical methodologies. Humanity has continuously refined its capacity for rational thought, from Socrates to Plato and modern philosophy. Methods such as Socratic Method, Plato’s ‘Allegory of the Cave’, and Bacon’s ‘Idols of the Cave’ exemplify the frameworks for rational thinking. As AI digital media advances, the capacity for rational judgment must evolve in tandem to sustain a human-centered society. Incorporating philosophical methodologies into youth media literacy education in the AI digital media era is anticipated to provide new directions and breakthroughs.
