Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
9-24-2026
Abstract
Disinformation, polarisation, filter bubbles and echo chambers pose growing risks to adolescents, as they are a group that consumes large amounts of information via social media. This paper presents a systematic review, following the PRISMA method, of the available empirical evidence on these risks among adolescents. Twelve empirical studies, published between 2019 and 2025, and collected from Web of Science and Scopus, were analysed. The results evidence that disinformation is the best-documented risk, whilst polarisation receives only marginal coverage and there is no direct empirical evidence regarding filter bubbles and echo chambers. Adolescents’ vulnerability is not uniform: it depends on age, background, parental supervision and the type of educational institution they attend, with age not behaving as a linear predictor. Critical-analytical thinking and algorithmic awareness emerge as key protective factors, with direct implications for media literacy education.
Recommended Citation
REMOVED, AUTHOR INFORMATION, "Adolescent Vulnerability to Disinformation, Polarisation, Filter Bubbles and Echo Chambers: A Systematic Review with Implications for Media Literacy Education" (2026). JMLE Submissions Open for Review. Paper 12.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/jmle-ofr/12