How Young Canadians Get Their Online Media

TV, music and movies have been a central part of young people’s lives for generations, and the Internet has only intensified that by delivering all of those directly to our homes – legally and illegally.

Cyber Security, Digital Citizenship, Intellectual Property, Internet & Mobile, Young Canadians In A Wired World

Click if You Agree (Grades 7-9)

Think you know how to read and understand privacy policies and terms of use? Learn how to make sense of legal documents for websites and apps with this interactive game.

Cyber Security, Digital Citizenship, Intellectual Property, Internet & Mobile, Marketing & Consumerism, Music, Privacy, Social Networking, Video Games

Secure Comics

In this lesson, students read an interactive online comic that teaches them key concepts and skills relating to three cybersecurity topics: malware, passwords and privacy from geotracking devices. Following this, students research their own cybersecurity topics and learn how non-fiction comics are made in order to create their own Secure Comic.

Comics, Cyber Security, Digital Citizenship, Intellectual Property

Knowing My Password

My three kids all know the password to my phone.

It’s because I rely on them to play secretary for me when I’m driving. If the phone rings or there is a bing of a text, 99% of the time it’s a member of my immediate family trying to get in touch with something relatively pressing.

Cell Phones and Texting, Cyber Security, Parents, Privacy

Keeping It Private Online

Recently, my nephew, age 12, received a letter in the mail. It was addressed to him personally, by name. Inside was a photocopied article about the powers of a new virility medicine, complete with the usual graphic promises for pleasuring the ladies. The article mentioned a specific “doctor” by name, but other than that, there was no contact information or order form or any other action request. It appeared to just be spam but in paper form.

Cell Phones and Texting, Cyber Security, Internet & Mobile, Parents, Privacy

Getting paranoid about our smart speaker

The other day I was on the phone with my sister – our land line, not a cell phone – and I said to her, “You’re my person.” This is a well-known phrase from the TV show Grey’s Anatomy; Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang used to say it to each other to cement the closeness of their friendship.

Cyber Security, Internet & Mobile, Parents, Privacy

Just a Joke? Printable activity sheet 

This printable activity sheet introduces basic media literacy skills and concepts and is suitable for use in homes, schools and libraries. It can be completed independently, but children will learn more if you discuss the activity with them. Younger children may need help reading the instructions and completing the activity. 

Cyber Security, Internet & Mobile, Online Hate, Social Networking

Don’t show them the money, talk about it

As part of digital media literacy, I think it is important to learn about financial literacy too. As our kids get older and we open bank accounts for them, they get jobs, buy their own items etc., having a sense of financial literacy is a must.

Cyber Security, Marketing & Consumerism, Online Marketing, Parents

DigitalSmarts

Digital literacy is a vital tool for education, employment and economic participation, civic engagement, and even health and wellness. It reinforces existing inequalities based on socioeconomic status, ethnicity, education, immigration status and gender. Given the importance of digital literacy skills to under-represented populations, MediaSmarts and YWCA Canada have partnered to develop and deliver DigitalSmarts, a digital literacy skills program.

Authenticating Information, Cell Phones and Texting, Cyber Security, Internet & Mobile