Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2025: “Minds Over AI”

The theme for Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week 2025 is “Minds Over AI: MIL in Digital Spaces.” This theme reflects how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way information is produced, distributed, and consumed across the world.

As AI tools now influence news feeds, search results, and even content creation, developing media and information literacy skills is more critical than ever. The idea behind “Minds Over AI” emphasizes that human intelligence, ethics, and judgment must remain in control of technology — not the other way around.

Event Details: Celebrating in Cartagena, Colombia

The Global MIL Week 2025 will be celebrated from 24 to 31 October 2025 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. This annual event brings together policymakers, educators, researchers, media professionals, and youth organizations to promote awareness, policy dialogue, and education on MIL.

The Feature Conference during the week will explore how AI-driven systems are influencing information flow and what steps can be taken to ensure responsible media consumption and creation.

Background: Promoting Media and Information Literacy for the Public Good

The United Nations General Assembly formally recognized Media and Information Literacy Week in 2021, acknowledging the urgent need for factual, accessible, multilingual, and science-based information.

The resolution underlined that digital divides and data inequalities between and within countries can be reduced by enhancing people’s ability to seek, receive, and share information responsibly.

In today’s world of information overload, disinformation, and AI-generated content, MIL helps individuals discern fact from fiction and participate meaningfully in the information ecosystem.

What Is Media and Information Literacy (MIL)?

Media and Information Literacy (MIL) refers to the ability to access, evaluate, use, and create information across various media — print, broadcast, or digital — in a responsible and ethical manner.

MIL encourages people to ask questions like:

• How can I verify whether a piece of information is credible?
• What are my rights and responsibilities online?
• How can I use information ethically and contribute positively to digital spaces?

UNESCO supports MIL development globally through curricula, policy frameworks, and capacity-building programs to help people become informed and empowered digital citizens.

Why “Minds Over AI” Matters Today

With the rapid integration of AI tools into everyday communication, from chatbots to recommendation algorithms, there’s growing concern about bias, misinformation, and loss of human oversight.

The theme “Minds Over AI” stresses the importance of keeping human values, critical thinking, and ethical reflection at the center of all AI-driven communication.

It is a call for education systems, media organizations, and governments to strengthen MIL so that societies can:

• Understand how algorithms influence decisions,
• Identify AI-generated misinformation, and
• Promote digital transparency and accountability.