Communicating Safely Online: Tip Sheet for Youth

a. Types of Unhealthy Online Relationships

Exploitation: Some people use digital media to get teenagers involved in relationships they’re not ready for. They do this by finding someone who is vulnerable and then showering them with attention, sympathy, affection and kindness, all to persuade the victim that they love and understand them.

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The Family Chat

Submitted by Lynn Jatania on 13 Jul 2021.

Lynn JataniaOur youngest is about to turn 14, and that means it’s time for the last member of our family to get her own cell phone.

We decided back when our oldest was heading off to high school that age 14, Grade 9, is cell phone time for our family. We’ve been happy with that decision – it seemed like the right time in terms of maturity, and also it became clear that having a phone to use in class at high school was beneficial and even expected.

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Cell Phones and Texting, Excessive Internet Use, Internet & Mobile, Parents, Social Networking

Cyber Choices

Submitted by Matthew Johnson on 12 Apr 2021.

Matthew JohnsonMeet Sasha. At age 8, she’s a real social butterfly, both online and off, and is very concerned with how the world sees her: she spends a lot of time making sure she looks good in photos online but doesn’t always think twice about who might see them. Violet is Sasha’s older sister and her polar opposite: she’s a hardcore gamer, and just as tough as her Level 65 Barbarian. Though she despairs of her sister sometimes, she’s also fiercely protective of her and will unleash her considerable wrath on anyone she thinks is picking on Sasha.

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Cell Phones and Texting, Cyberbullying, Digital Citizenship, Digital Health, Excessive Internet Use, Internet & Mobile, Online Ethics, Privacy, Resources, Social Networking, Video Games

Algorithmic Awareness: Conversations with Young Canadians about Artificial Intelligence and Privacy

Submitted by MediaSmarts on 31 Mar 2021.

This blog was written by Samantha McAleese and three youth participants – Sahil, Erin, and Kate (pseudonyms used to maintain anonymity).

Reflections on Conducting Qualitative Research During a Pandemic

What comes to mind when you hear the word algorithm? Can you explain how machine learning works? Do you have any privacy or data collection concerns regarding the increased reliance on artificial intelligence? These are just a few of the questions that we asked young people in our recent qualitative research project Algorithmic Awareness: Conversations with Young Canadians about Artificial Intelligence and Privacy. From November 2020 to January 2021, we facilitated eight focus groups with 22 youth ages 13 to 17, where we combined game-based learning with discussion and reflection to gain insight into how young Canadians understand the relationship between artificial intelligence, algorithms, and privacy.

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Internet & Mobile, Privacy

Getting your News from Social Media

Submitted by Lynn Jatania on 22 Mar 2021.

Lynn JataniaAn interesting thing happened the other day. My husband was talking about some recent political events in the United States, and my kids and I didn’t know what he was talking about.

 

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Authenticating Information, Digital Health, Internet & Mobile, Journalism & News, Parents

Cyber Choices (Grades 3-5)

Cyber Choices is an interactive game designed to help students in grades 3 to 5 develop the skills and habits they need to make safe and responsible choices online. Cyber Choices lets students explore four different stories that cover key issues such as making good choices about their own and others’ personal information, dealing with cyberbullying (as both a target and a witness) and managing online conflict. 

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Living Your Life Online

Submitted by Lynn Jatania on 29 Jan 2021.

Lynn JataniaThis past December, my two daughters and I fell down the BTS rabbit hole.

BTS is a Korean K-Pop band that has been slowly taking over the universe since 2013. Their music can be heard worldwide, and in recent years they’ve made appearances on American late-night talk shows and on the American charts, while selling millions of records internationally.

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Internet & Mobile, Music, Parents

Bonding over video games

Submitted by Lynn Jatania on 16 Dec 2020.

We’ve been using video games to bond with our kids for a while now. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, right?

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Digital Health, Internet & Mobile, Parents, Video Games

Lights, Camera, Action! Making Media in the Classroom, Made Easy

Submitted by Matthew Johnson on 20 Nov 2020.

Matthew Johnson

For nearly thirty years, Canadian teachers have been at the forefront of getting students online and preparing them to use networked technologies safely, productively and responsibly. Many young Canadians have their first experiences with the internet in their classrooms and school libraries. Over the past decade, though, while digital tools have come to provide new opportunities for creating and distributing digital content, MediaSmarts’ research shows that most Canadian teachers aren’t making media in the classroom.

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Comics, Digital Citizenship, Internet & Mobile, Media Literacy 101, Media Production, Movies, Professional Development, Resources, Video Games

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