Young Canadians in a Wireless World, Phase IV: Talking to Youth and Parents about Online Resiliency

In 2019, MediaSmarts conducted focus groups with youth ages 11 to 17 and their parents to better understand what is working for young people online and what needs to be changed or improved so that young people get the most out of their online experiences and their interactions with digital technology – both at home and in the classroom. Through these conversations we discovered that youth are deeply aware of the pitfalls and benefits of digital technology. This research calls attention to how we might help youth across Canada be more resilient online – with more balance, trust and support – and formed the foundation for the development of our national survey with students across Canada.

Building towards autonomy on the internet

One of the hardest things to do as a parent is let go.

New digital skills workshops for under-represented women across Canada

Ottawa, ON – February 11, 2020

In celebration of Safer Internet Day, MediaSmarts and YWCA Canada are proud to launch a series of digital literacy workshops to help empower under-represented women from communities across the country.

Building towards autonomy on the internet

One of the hardest things to do as a parent is let go.

There’s no excuse: confronting moral disengagement in sexting

In this lesson, students learn about the “sneaky excuses” that can convince us to do things that we know are wrong. After learning about the different types of these excuses, students watch and discuss a series of videos in which the excuses are used to justify forwarding sexts without the original sender’s consent. Finally, students create their own videos in which the excuses used to justify sharing sexts with other people are illustrated and most importantly, countered.

Talking to youth about forwarding sexts

As a parent, you may find some relief in learning that fewer youth take and send sexts (nude or semi-nude photos) than you may think. However, 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 major concern and can have devastating consequences for the person in the picture and the person who forwards it.

What should I do if someone sends me a sext?

Half of Canadian youth aged 16 to 20 have been sent a sext (a nude, partly nude or sexy photo) that they didn’t ask for. Whether you call them sexts, nudes, naked selfies or just pics, if you receive an intimate image like this, it’s your job to make the right choice about the sender’s privacy. There is no excuse to forward a sext that someone sent you.

New videos aim to stop teens from sharing other peoples’ intimate images without consent

February 11, 2020 - A series of videos and resources from MediaSmarts and TELUS Wise are launching for Safer Internet Day with the message that it’s never okay to share someone’s sext without their consent.

There's No Excuse

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.

Keeping up with kids in a wireless world

By Samantha McAleese, research associate at MediaSmarts and
David Fowler, vice-president, marketing and communications at CIRA.