Doctors should counsel parents of young children on screen time

June 1, 2017 – As exposure to digital media in Canadian family life increases, so have concerns about how screen time affects children and families. A new statement from the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) recommends that physicians and health care providers counsel parents and caregivers of young children on how to minimize screen time and mitigate its potential negative effects. The CPS also recommends that physicians guide parents on how to mindfully use and model healthy screen use to encourage positive habits.

Back to school in the digital age

OTTAWA, Aug. 31, 2017 – Back to school for today’s teenagers looks a lot different than it used to. On top of new classes and friends, they might also be exploring new social media networks, online relationships or digital personas.

Media Literacy Week starts today, promotes inclusion and diversity online

OTTAWA – Media Literacy Week kicks off today and runs until Friday, raising awareness about the need to create inclusive digital communities.

MediaSmarts and Facebook Canada release new video to help Canadians tell fact from fiction

Quick, easy strategies can keep false news from spreading

New teachers across the country to improve young Canadians’ digital skills thanks to federal funding

OTTAWA, January 22, 2018 – Soon-to-be teachers in faculties of education across Canada will learn how to develop their students’ digital literacy skills in a special training program from MediaSmarts, Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy, as part of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s CanCode program.

Canadian youth sharing others’ sexts at alarming rate: study

Parents and teachers need evidence-based strategies to confront culture of non-consensual sharing

Kids learn to defend their data with new privacy game

OTTAWA, March 28, 2018 – A new game is coming to Canadian classrooms and homes, designed not just to entertain children but also to teach them how to protect their privacy. Data Defenders, produced by the not-for-profit digital literacy organization MediaSmarts, shows kids how ad brokers try to collect their personal information and offers strategies to keep that information private.

Young Canadians learn to tell fact from fake for Media Literacy Week 2018

OTTAWA, April 18, 2018 – MediaSmarts, Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy, and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) are pleased to announce that this year’s Media Literacy Week will focus on helping students decipher truth from fiction online.

TELUS commits $75,000 to digital literacy skills for Canadian children

New platinum sponsorship of MediaSmarts will support research and education to tackle cyberbullying and other pressing issues

OTTAWA, June 6, 2018 – MediaSmarts, Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy, is pleased to welcome TELUS as a platinum sponsor with a $75,000 contribution. TELUS had previously sponsored the charitable organization at the silver ($30,000) level for many years.

MediaSmarts welcomes new Executive Director Kathryn Ann Hill

Ms. Hill will champion digital and media literacy for the next generation of Canadian parents, teachers and youth

OTTAWA, July 5, 2018 – MediaSmarts, Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy, is excited to announce Kathryn Ann Hill as its next Executive Director. She replaces Cathy Wing and Jane Tallim, who are retiring from their roles as co-executive directors after more than 25 years of service to the organization.