MediaSmarts was pleased to welcome the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance on board in 2017 as a Bronze Sponsor. This partnership has supported the creation of resources that teach young Canadians how to be ethical users of digital media.
While MediaSmarts’ research shows that teachers place considerable importance on teaching their students digital literacy skills such as authenticating information, managing privacy, addressing cyberbullying, and being safe online, evidence suggests this is not reflected in Canadian classrooms. The intent of these resources is to support teachers in implementing digital literacy into their teaching practice and to help them to develop digital literacy lessons and activities that suit their students' needs.
We were delighted to welcome Wattpad as a Silver Sponsor of our organization in September 2018.
In 2019, Wattpad partnered with MediaSmarts to develop their new Wattpad Safety Portal, giving their users (or any parent or guardian) safety tips and information to help everyone have the best possible experience on their platform.
MediaSmarts conducted a survey of 1,000 youth ages 12 to 16 years old to better understand their attitudes and experiences with casual prejudice online; specifically, the motivations and external factors that influence their decisions whether or not to intervene. Study results uncover that youth experiences with online casual prejudice are common yet many youth do not respond because they don’t know what to do to make a difference. This research is a call for more effective interventions that will prepare, engage, and empower youth to push back against hate online.
Young Canadians in a Wireless World (YCWW) – formerly known as Young Canadians in Wired World – is Canada’s longest running, and most comprehensive research study on young people’s attitudes and behaviours regarding the internet, surveying over 20,000 parents, teachers, and students since 2000.
Almost half of youth who have taken and sent a sext say that the recipient then forwarded that image to other people without their consent. This culture of sharing among youth is a real concern and can have devastating consequences for the person in the picture and the person who forwards it.
Youth want clear and simple online privacy policies to better understand online consent
The Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum program provides teachers with a comprehensive approach to fostering critical thinking skills at all grade levels, with particular attention to addressing online misinformation and online hate through teaching critical thinking.
MediaSmarts is home to trusted experts in the field of digital media literacy. Below you can find a list of MediaSmarts experts available to comment on current affairs and trending topics in the media or to book for select speaking engagements.
MediaSmarts is home to trusted experts in the field of digital literacy and media literacy. Below, you can find a list of MediaSmarts experts available to comment on current affairs and trending topics in the media, or to book for select speaking engagements.