Final answer:
Becoming media literate takes considerable work and is a false statement. Media literacy requires the development of critical thinking skills to navigate, understand, and evaluate the vast array of media content, especially in the age of social media and the internet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Becoming media literate takes little work' is false. Media literacy involves the ability to create, understand, and evaluate various types of media through the application of critical thinking skills. Over time, the role of media has evolved, from the minimal effects theory of the 1930s and 1940s, which suggested that media had little effect on citizens, to the cultivation theory of the 1970s, which posited that media develop a person's view of the world by presenting a perceived reality. Today, the explosion of information across the internet and social media platforms has made media literacy ever more vital. It requires a cultivated skill to navigate the vast amount of information available, to spot fake news, and to understand the biases that may shape the information presented. Studies have shown that falsehoods can spread rapidly on social media, influencing opinions and making the need for media literacy all the more critical.