Put Your Best Face Forward

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.

Body Image, Digital Citizenship, Digital Health, Internet & Mobile, Social Networking

Promoting Ethical Online Behaviours with Your Kids

Most kids live as much of their lives online as they do offline. But on the Internet there are lots of moral and ethical choices that don’t have to be made offline. These tips lay out ways you can help your children develop a moral compass to guide them through those choices.

Authenticating Information, Cyber Security, Digital Citizenship, Intellectual Property, Internet & Mobile, Online Ethics

Building your brand: Establishing a positive presence online

Like it or not, if you use the Internet you have an online identity. Some people call this your "brand." What's a brand? Think about a brand of soft drink, or computer, or jeans, or a band or a sports team. You probably have a certain idea about each one – what it's like, who buys it, and so on.

Digital Citizenship, Internet & Mobile, Social Networking

Masculinity and Advertising

Advertising is a major source of stereotyped representations of masculinity.

Gender Representation, Marketing & Consumerism, Stereotyping

Sexual Exploitation – Overview

The Internet offers young people important opportunities to socialize with their friends and families as well as to find people who share common interests and communities that can provide emotional support. It is also inevitable that at an age where young people are starting to explore their sexuality offline, they will do so online in these interactive environments as well.

Digital Citizenship, Internet & Mobile, Sexual Exploitation

Online Sexual Predators

The nature of online sexual exploitation is widely misunderstood: “Instead of pedophiles (ie individuals with sexual interests in children) preying on young children, most Internet-initiated sex crimes involve young adults (mostly men) who target and seduce teenagers into sexual encounters.” Similarly, child sexual abuse material is most frequently produced by victims’ family members, with fathers being the single most common perpetrators. Even in cases of sextortion, 60 percent of youth who are victims know the perpetrators offline.

Digital Citizenship, Internet & Mobile, Sexual Exploitation

Sexual Exploitation - Safety Tips

As adults, we want to foster resilience in young people, starting when they’re young. This can be done by teaching them how to handle harassing messages or requests that make them feel uncomfortable – on the internet or in the schoolyard – and, as they get older, by teaching them how to spot and respond to emotional manipulation. The good news is that most teens are effectively handling online requests from strangers – the bigger challenge is helping them handle sexual advances from people they know.

Digital Citizenship, Internet & Mobile, Sexual Exploitation

Marketing and Consumerism - Special Issues for Tweens and Teens

One of the most important recent developments in advertising to kids has been the defining of a "tween" market (ages 8 to 12).

Marketing & Consumerism

Taking Action - Marketing and Consumerism

To help kids avoid the many traps and pitfalls set up by online marketers, parents and teachers need to become more informed about online marketing techniques and privacy issues – and then pass the information on to kids.

Marketing & Consumerism

Marketing & Consumerism - Special Issues for Young Children

Parents of young children have an important role to play in protecting their kids from invasive marketing and in educating them about advertising from an early age.

Marketing & Consumerism