Media Literacy for Digital Wellness
A healthy digital life and good health in real life go hand in hand. Our digital wellness work aims to expand the understanding of media literacy to include digital wellness and ensure K-12 health education includes media literacy education.
Media Literacy is Important for Healthy Lives
We all want young people to develop the critical thinking skills needed to navigate today’s complex media environment. Media messages shape young people’s perceptions — whether negative or positive — about body image, healthy eating, gender and racial stereotypes, self-esteem, substance abuse, and other public health issues. Online experiences can present serious privacy and safety threats when young people are not educated about these dangers. And internet, social media, and emerging AI have expanded our access to information, including false and misleading information.
Be sure to sign up to receive news and updates about our digital wellness work, including opportunities to join the project, take action in your state, and provide feedback.
Did You Know?
According to a recent poll, 92% of teachers say “digital drama” disrupts learning. (CyberCivics survey of K-8 teachers)
Up to 95% of young people aged 13-17 report using a social media platform. Nearly two thirds of teenagers report using social media every day and one third report using social media “almost constantly.” (U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory)
Opportunity for Educators
Media Literacy Now is looking to convene teachers, librarians, administrators, media literacy experts, and education organizations from a wide range of perspectives to represent the diverse needs of elementary, middle, and high school students for the purpose of gathering and vetting resources, instruction material and routines, and identifying important missing pieces pertinent to media literacy education in all subjects and at all grade levels. If you’re interested in participating or want to learn more, please fill out the survey.
We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis – one that we must urgently address.
We are thrilled that the U.S. Surgeon General – the country’s leading public health advisor – has recognized that media literacy and digital wellness education are fundamental to addressing youth mental health, and especially that he has called on policymakers to take action.
Evidence is mounting that digital culture plays a critical role in the emotional lives and well-being of children and teens.
Share your story! Are you taking action in your school or community? Let us know! We love to hear what advocates are doing around the country. Share your story.
