Boys are just as likely as girls to send sexts of themselves, reveals a new study on young people, sexuality and the Internet

Ottawa, ON (May 29, 2014) – There is little gender difference in those youth who have sent a sext of themselves – defined as “a sexy, nude or partially nude photo” – to someone, although sexts of boys are more likely to be forwarded,– according to a study of Canadian students released today by MediaSmarts. Boys are also more likely than girls to have forwarded a sext sent to them and are twice as likely to report having received a sext that was forwarded by someone other than the original creator.

Canadian youth regularly encounter racist and sexist content online, with boys more likely to be exposed to it

Ottawa, ON (June 19, 2014) – One third of grade 7 to 11 students report they encounter racist or sexist content online at least once a day or once a week, according to a new Canadian study from MediaSmarts. Boys encounter racist and sexist content online more frequently than girls and are also more likely to brush off discriminatory content as a joke, with girls more likely to be hurt when the joke is made at their expense. Boys are also three times more likely to make fun of someone’s race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation online.

Saskatchewan Government committed to teaching students to be safe and ethical online

Ottawa, ON (July 7, 2014) – MediaSmarts is pleased to announce that the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education has licensed its series of digital literacy resources for all teachers and classrooms in the province.

Prince Edward Island government to put digital literacy programs to all schools

Ottawa, ON (Sept 30, 2014) – MediaSmarts is pleased to announce that the Prince Edward Island Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has licensed its series of digital literacy resources for all teachers and classrooms in the province.

Teens using social media for good celebrated at Media Literacy Week launch

Toronto, ON (November 3, 2014) High school students from the GTA – joined virtually by youth from across Canada – came together this morning to learn how to leverage the power of social media platforms for advocacy, activism and peer support.

Young Canadians need less surveillance and more mentorship online

National study highlights the important role of adults in kids’ online lives. A new report released by MediaSmarts, Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy, calls on parents, teachers and policy makers to support young Canadians in meeting the challenges of growing up in the digital age.

Shaw Communications commits to healthy kids in a digital world as a Platinum Sponsor of MediaSmarts

February 25, 2015 (Ottawa) – MediaSmarts, a leading Canadian centre for digital and media literacy, is pleased to welcome Shaw Communications Inc. as its first Platinum sponsor. The Platinum Sponsorship represents a $75,000 contribution in 2015 to the charitable organization.

MediaSmarts launches comprehensive digital literacy framework for Canadian schools

MediaSmarts, Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy, has today launched an extensive new program to support teachers in integrating digital literacy into their classrooms. Use, Understand & Create: A Digital Literacy Framework for Canadian Schools (K-8) is a cross-curricular program that provides teachers with an array of tools to give students the skills they need for the digital age.