Pengaruh Media Literacy Skills terhadap Digital Citizenship melalui Media Literacy Effect pada Pelajar di Kecamatan Lowokwaru, Kota Malang

The rapid development of digital technology has increased the use of digital media in various aspects of life, such as communication, information seeking, and social participation. This condition requires individuals to possess adequate media literacy skills in order to interact critically, responsibly, and ethically in digital spaces. Without these abilities, the use of digital media may lead to various problems, including the spread of inaccurate information and irresponsible digital behavior. This study aims to analyze the effect of Media Literacy Skills on Digital Citizenship with Media Literacy Effectas a mediating variable among students aged 15–24 years in Lowokwaru District, Malang City. This research employed a quantitative approach using a survey method involving 394 respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using PROCESS Hayes Model 4 with a bootstrap technique of 5000 samples. The results indicate that Media Literacy Skills have a positive and significant effect on Digital Citizenship. In addition, Media Literacy Effect also has a positive and significant effect on Digital Citizenship and is proven to mediate the relationship between Media Literacy Skills and Digital Citizenship through partial mediation. These findings suggest that media literacy not only functions as a technical ability to understand information, but also shapes how individuals think, behave, and interact in digital environments, thereby contributing to the development of more responsible digital citizenship practices.