Some of the most common ethical decisions youth face online revolve around intellectual property, but teaching kids to respect intellectual property can be particularly challenging because they may not see this as an ethical issue.
“Students require an understanding of self as the basis for making healthy choices, having healthy interactions with others and using resources wisely, as well as for lifelong career development. They also require information, planning tools and processes to make decisions and develop action plans for effective life management.” Career and Life Management
In the Alberta Health and Life Skills K-9 Framework, media literacy is highlighted under the heading Program Rational and Philosophy in the section Responsible, Healthy Choices:
Many curricular expectations in B.C. Physical and Health Education courses relate to media and digital literacy. Media and digital literacy skills and concepts can be found in many of the Big Ideas, Curricular Competencies and specific course content.
Media components are included in the Northwest Territories Social Studies curriculum in the Managing Information and Ideas strand. The document Social Studies in the Northwest Territories – A Kindergarten to Grade 4 Overview includes the following among key social studies skills:
Though they are by no means the only factor, media representations of weight and body shape are a major element in body image concerns. Media of all kinds frequently promote weight stigma, most often representing weight as an individual responsibility.[1] Time spent on social media and watching television[2] and exposure to manipulated photos on social media[3] have all been linked to negative body image or increased concern with appearance.
No longer relegated to the realms of innuendo and secrecy, today we see a wide range of gender identities and sexual orientations represented on television and in mainstream film alongside cisgender people. 2SLGBTQ+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans, queer and gender and sexually diverse communities) people see their reflections on screen in a wide variety of roles. And yet, there remain many challenges.
Children may be particularly at risk online because they’re not always aware of the risks associated with what they’re doing. For that reason, children need close supervision when using digital devices and also need to be taught basic cyber security skills as early as possible.
While parents may find certain representations of violence wholly appropriate for young people, there’s a wide continuum of content that exists online and in the media. Anything from a cartoon cat having an anvil comically dropped on his head to video images of real-life injuries and deaths can be accessed online by children and youth.
The internet is all about sharing – sharing news, sharing videos, sharing our thoughts and opinions with our friends.