Do you ever feel like you can’t stop scrolling on your social media apps? Like you just have to watch the next video, scroll through more photos, read the next post? That’s not a coincidence. Social media companies intentionally design their apps to be addictive. And no one is more vulnerable to those addictive tendencies … Read more
Social media can be a difficult place for children and teens to navigate. For years, people have raised concerns about the dangers young people face on these platforms, including concerns over privacy, exploitation, and exposure to dangerous or inappropriate content. And many parents have no idea what their children are doing on social media sites … Read more
Social media apps connect us to the rest of the world, but they also open the door to many harmful situations. In this activity, students will pick two friends and discuss online situations that make them feel uncomfortable. After discussion, the group will make an agreement to avoid negative situations online. Click on this video … Read more
Who we follow online may influence what we believe when viewing media. Celebrities we like might say things that aren’t necessarily true. In this activity, students will make a list of celebrities and play a ‘Guess Who’ game to see if they can guess the celebrity based on their online quote. Click on this video … Read more
For years, parents and teachers have been concerned over young people’s use of digital technology. Adults worry that children are spending too much time playing video games or scrolling through social media, and that these platforms are hurting their social and emotional development. But digital devices aren’t going anywhere. People use digital technology for everything … Read more
On February 24th, 2022, after months of amassing troops on their border and making demands in the international arena, Russia invaded Ukraine under the orders of Vladimir Putin. The attack continues to have major consequences in the United States and around the world; stories about major attacks, the growing refugee crisis, and the response of … Read more
Social media and the digital world are a minefield for misinformation. In the era of “fake news,” anyone can write a story or create a video and share it with millions of people around the world. Children can be a target of this misinformation, but they can also be part of the solution. Take Finland, … Read more
Navigating adolescence is tough. It’s easy to feel like no one understands what you’re going through, especially when the stories that we see in movies, TV, and more don’t reflect your experiences. “It just kind of makes me feel like ‘Why don’t I see anybody like me?’” said one high school student. “[It] kind of … Read more
Check out these videos created by teens in YSO INT’s afterschool media literacy programs in 2016.