How media literacy is helping students tell fact from fiction

Kids and teens today are using the immense power of digital media to explore, connect, create, and learn in ways never before imagined. With this power, young people have extraordinary opportunities; yet they face potential pitfalls, too. Schools are dealing with the ramifications, such as fake and biased news, cyberbullying, digital cheating, and security concerns. These issues underscore the need for students to learn -- and for teachers to teach -- digital-literacy and citizenship skills.

Policymakers around the country are now seeking legislative solutions. Common Sense Kids Action is leading a national coalition of like-minded organizations in an effort to pass modeled legislation that would expand school and district access to digital citizenship and media-literacy resources. The legislation uses a state advisory committee that includes researchers, administrators, educators, and others to review digital citizenship and media-literacy curricula and policy.

In case you missed it, Common Sense Kids Action was recently featured on PBS News Hour on how media literacy educators and policymakers in Washington State are advocating for legislative solutions to help students spot fake news.

Watch here

Common Sense Kids Action has been a leading resource for policymakers, school administrators, educators, and parents interested in learning additional ways to help kids thrive in a world driven by media and technology. We believe good online behavior mimics good offline behavior and there's no differentiating between the two when it comes to safety, responsibility, and respect.

At Common Sense Kids Action, we're working every day to make the world a better place for kids. Join our efforts to make kids our nation's top priority -- become a Kids Action Advocate today!