Rationale*: Children are using the Internet/media on a daily basis but frequently lack the skills they need to use the media in a safe, effective, and responsible way. Media Literacy aims to teach children essential literacy skills for Internet/media use, including: 1) Managing Safety and Privacy a. Protecting personal data b. Creating and managing "Friend" and "Buddy" lists c. Dealing with stranger contact d. Managing videos and photos online e. Recognizing and avoiding unpleasant content f. Getting help from parents g. Becoming aware of the permanence of materials online 2) Researching and Autheniticating a. Detecting bias b. Authenticating information sources c. Verifying authorship d. Developing search skills 3) Behaving Ethically Online a. Managing online relationships b. Reacting to provocation c. Dealing with online bullying d. Using file sharing technology ethically 4) Recognizing and Decoding Advertising a. Recognizing advertising environments b. Recognizing and questioning advertising claims c. Understanding that immersive environments and "advergames" are used to collect consumer information and build brand loyalty 5) Developing Awareness of Content Issues a. Identifying and analyzing the dangers of different types of inappropriate content b. Analyzing the dangers of violent and hate Web sites c. Understanding the risks of online gambling
Adapted with permission from The Media Awareness Network, Passport to the Internet