(Source: Angus Reid.org)

Did You Know? Legal Topics for Secondary Students –Social Media Ban – Part 2: The Role of Media Literacy

In Part 1, we reviewed the proposed legislation for the federal social media ban. In Part 2, the focus is on media literacy as a tool to support critical thinking for secondary youths in online forums and media sites.

Have you ever received a text, clicked on the link, only to wonder if the message was legit? Maybe you’ve scrolled past a post and wondered if what you are reading is true? Maybe you received a DM, and you didn’t know if the sender was a real person. Do you know what your online identity shares about you, and if what has been posted is accurate? If you are 16 or 60, having media smarts when using social media platforms is one way to keep yourself safe from falling for false stories and misinformation.

Did You Know……

• If you have a profile or have posted online, you have an online identity. Search yourself on Google to see your online presence. And like it or not, when the time comes to apply for a job, potential employers will look online to see who they are interviewing and/or hiring. Review regularly and ask for posts to be taken down if you don’t like what has been shared.
• 1 in 4 people have shared a false news story. This happens because creators of false news and misinformation rely on our biases to do the work for them. We are all susceptible to believing what we read if it confirms what we already think/know/do.
• Posts about politics, health, and science are the most targeted topics for spreading misinformation. Before believing what you hear or read, go to the original source and/or check out hoax-busting websites.

K-12 Teacher Resources:

Media Smarts – Media Literacy Week: Teacher’s Hub: https://mediasmarts.ca/mlw-teachers-hub

Media Smarts – Tipsheet – Building Your Brand: Establishing a Positive https://mediasmarts.ca/tipsheet/building-your-brand-establishing-positive-presence-online-tip-sheet

Media Smarts – Tipsheet – How to Tell Fact from Fake Online https://mediasmarts.ca/sites/default/files/guides/guide_reality_check.pdf