United nations: Young people are urged to help strengthen information integrity by using social media responsibly, while urging digital platforms to ensure their services remain safe spaces free from deception and abuse. United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming said engaging with young people is equally important, adding that she wanted to hear their views and experiences in navigating today's increasingly complex information environment.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fleming expressed a strong desire to empower youth, emphasizing their potential impact on the information environment by communicating effectively and spreading positive messages through their social media platforms. She stressed the responsibility of social media platforms to maintain a safe space for users to communicate and express themselves freely, without facing attacks or deception. Fleming's comments came during the 'Media and Youth Dialogue on Information Integrity in the Digital Age: Strengthening Trust, Countering Hate Speech and Misinformation.'

Earlier during the dialogue, Fleming highlighted the essential role of governments in regulating digital platforms and establishing standards to combat misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. She noted that technology companies are primarily profit-driven, lacking the incentive to self-regulate. Therefore, she advocated for the support of public interest media and encouraged individuals to seek information directly from credible sources.

Fleming's holistic view of the information ecosystem includes social media platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), traditional media, advertisers, and public institutions. She called on advertisers and public relations companies to play a greater role, highlighting the inadvertent funding of disinformation and hate speech by brands through online advertising. According to Fleming, the UN is collaborating with the advertising industry to address these issues and foster a healthier information environment.

The dialogue, organised by the UN in Malaysia in collaboration with the Malaysia Media Council (MMM) and Akademi MySDG, brought together media practitioners, youth representatives, content creators, and civil society to discuss ways to strengthen information integrity and build public trust in the digital space.