Investigating Students’ Ability and the Role of Academic Libraries in Combating Misinformation in Digital Media Environment: A Case of a Public University in Bangladesh

This study explores university students’ usage of different digital media platforms, their fact-checking behavior, ability to identify online misinformation, and how academic libraries can help them in combating online misinformation. Using a mixed-method approach, the study collected quantitative data from students and qualitative data from library professionals of a public university in Bangladesh. Students’ data were gathered through an online survey questionnaire from different social media platforms using a convenience sampling technique and analyzed using SPSS software and Microsoft Excel. Qualitative data were collected from library professionals using an interview method and analyzed based on the thematic analysis technique. A total of 408 students and 6 library professionals participated in the study. The majority of the students used Facebook, YouTube and Messenger for information consumption and were skilled in navigating and using various digital media platforms effectively and could distinguish between credible and unreliable sources of information on digital platforms. Students’ fact-checking behavior differed based on several demographic variables. On the other hand, interviews with library professionals revealed that while no formal initiatives exist, they perceive a vital role for academic libraries in promoting information literacy, ethical use, and access to reliable resources to combat misinformation.