The good news is that violence in media is not directly linked to youth crime or aggression, but it does influence how we see the world. Talking to kids about violence in the media they consume – television, movies, video games, music and social media – can help them put media violence into perspective.
In this lesson, students start by discussing the phenomenon of “selfies” and serve as experts in advising the teacher on the standards by which the “best” selfies are judged. They then discuss a number of statements taken from interviews with youth that highlight issues of self-representation, body image and gender standards, and learn about “photoshopping” images. Finally, students apply what they have learned by modifying an image that is at least 50 years old to meet “selfie” standards.