Coming this October: Digital Citizen Day and Media Literacy Week

September 20, 2023 – Our online environments present unique challenges: extremism, online hate and the spread of misinformation and AI-generated deepfakes, just to name a few. But studies have shown that it takes just 10 percent of the people in a community to set its values. Spreading positive content can have a real impact.

Canada’s second annual Digital Citizen Day takes place October 25, 2023 during Media Literacy Week, encouraging everyone to spread positivity online using #DigitalCitizenDay. It’s hosted by MediaSmarts, Canada’s charitable centre for digital media literacy.

“As citizens online, we’re exposed to the best and the most challenging sides of our digital world. Our social media feeds can sometimes feel like they’re filled with insults and negativity, but they can be used for good,” says Kathryn Ann Hill, Executive Director of MediaSmarts. “Digital Citizen Day is an opportunity for us all to consider the role we play online and to engage positively.”

Positive ways to engage online as a digital citizen can include:

Pushing back against hate and prejudice online and reporting it
Sharing a kind or positive comment
Sending a funny message to brighten someone’s day
Making your voice heard about an issue you care about (in a constructive way)
Amplifying marginalized voices
Checking reputable sources before sharing info
Respecting other people’s privacy when sharing things online

MediaSmarts’ digital media literacy experts are available for interviews leading up to and during Digital Citizen Day and Media Literacy Week.

Key info

Experts available for interview:
- Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts
- Dr. Kara Brisson-Boivin, Director of Research at MediaSmarts
- Kathryn Ann Hill, Executive Director of MediaSmarts
- Marc-Alexandre Ladouceur, Media Education Specialist (bilingual) at MediaSmarts

Canada’s 18th annual Media Literacy Week runs from October 23 to 27, 2023. The annual event invites everyone in Canada to celebrate by engaging in digital media literacy activities.
Canada’s second annual Digital Citizen Day takes place October 25, 2023, encouraging everyone to consider the role we play in our online spaces as digital citizens and to spread positivity online using #DigitalCitizenDay.

Media Literacy Week is sponsored by Amazon, Bell, Meta, TELUS Wise, TikTok, and YouTube, with support from l’Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens, the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, the Alberta Teachers Association, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association and the Nova Scotia Teachers Union.

Digital Citizen Day is sponsored by TikTok.

Media Literacy Week is run in partnership with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) with patronage from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO).

Join the conversation:

Contact:

Tricia Grant
Director of Marketing and Communications
MediaSmarts
613-224-7721 ext. 231
tgrant@mediasmarts.ca

MediaSmarts is Canada's charitable centre for digital media literacy. For over 27 years, MediaSmarts has advanced digital media literacy in Canadian schools, homes and communities. Visit www.mediasmarts.ca to learn more.