Social Media for Libraries: Promoting Digital Literacy in the Community

How can libraries use social media to support digital literacy and empower their communities?

In an age when information moves faster than ever, libraries have an important role to play in helping people navigate the digital world. From spotting misinformation to using online tools safely, digital literacy is essential for everyone—and social media can be a powerful platform for promoting these skills.

Libraries can use their social media pages not only to share resources, but also to teach. A post about evaluating online sources, a short video showing how to recognize fake news, or a shared infographic about password security can reach audiences who might not attend an in-person workshop. These posts help patrons develop practical skills while also reinforcing the library’s mission as a trusted source of information.

Engagement is key. When libraries invite their followers to comment, share tips, or ask questions, they turn learning into a two-way conversation. For instance, a Fact or Fiction? weekly post could encourage followers to test their information evaluation skills in a fun way. By combining education with interactivity, libraries can make digital literacy approachable rather than intimidating.

There are also ethical and accessibility considerations. Posts should always include clear language, alt text for images, and captions for videos so that everyone can participate. The American Library Association (ALA) provides excellent guidance on digital inclusion and accessibility that libraries can reference when planning online content.

Ultimately, using social media for digital literacy helps libraries extend their impact beyond their walls. It shows that libraries are not just keepers of information—they are active educators helping communities thrive in an evolving world.

Question for Readers
What types of digital literacy topics do you think libraries should focus on teaching through social media—online safety, identifying misinformation, or something else?

Madison Ledford

Comments

  1. Christina BeiderbeckeOctober 5, 2025 at 7:21 AM

    I love this post! I am the Digitial Literacy Navigator at the public library where i work and those two topics (online safety and identifying misinformation) are very popular presentations . I also hold individual sessions to help patrons with the privacy settings on their social media - usually Facebook and Instragram. Those types of privacy settings seem to be constantly changing and can be slightly confusing in the wording Meta uses to describe some of the features. Data collection techniques from the social media companies can be overwhelming as well.

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  2. Beth WolfOctober 6, 2025 at 5:17 PM

    Hi Madison!

    You make some awesome points in this post and I think a Fact or Fiction social media post would be so informative. I love alliteration, so maybe I would do Fact or Fiction Friday or something. Too often, I go on social media and see people sharing things from questionable sources. Even if it is just a fake announcement of a Netflix show, it makes me so mad! People really need to check if something is true before they hit that share button. Another thing I thought of is when I see (usually older) Facebook users sharing that text post about Meta changing their privacy settings and that they can "steal your photos" if you don't explicitly state that they can't - and the first thing that goes through my brain is "it literally doesn't work that way, but ok!" When I was a Journalism and Broadcasting major in my undergrad, we talked a lot about First Amendment rights and disinformation and misinformation. We also shared this really cool Media Bias Chart (https://app.adfontesmedia.com/chart/interactive?utm_source=adfontesmedia&utm_medium=website). I have always shared this with friends when they were asking how to tell if a source was more opinion based vs credible or if the publication leaned one direction or another. I personally try to stay in the green box with my sources if I can.

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