Amid AI, filters and misinformation, experts say it's crucial for kids to learn about media literacy. Here's how.

When parents teach their kids to be vigilant, they're probably thinking about, say, avoiding strangers or looking out for cars when crossing the street — not deciphering whether or not that picture of the pope is real or AI (artificial intelligence), or vetting claims they read online. But modern-day technology has come with new challenges for parents who want their kids to have the skills they need to stay safe and spot questionable and information online.

Media literacy isn’t an issue many parents feel equipped to handle, and it’s not regularly taught in U.S. schools. So why is it a big deal? Dr. Ryan Sultan, a mental health physician, clinical director of Integrative Psych, and research professor at Columbia University, says that in his practice, he talks about digital media literacy “constantly … including the idea of what is real and what’s not real.” Jolie Rinebarger, a licensed clinical social worker with Kaiser Permanente, adds that good media and social media literacy skills “can help parents and teens build resiliency and hopefully lead to more positive impacts.” And according to Rebekah Fitzsimmons, assistant teaching professor of professional communication at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, there is another reason to teach these skills early. “We don't want to raise kids who are gullible and scammable,” she says.

What is media literacy?

Media literacy is “the ability to critically analyze and understand the content and nature of media platforms,” Sultan explains. He elaborates that this “includes recognizing biases, evaluating the credibility of sources, understanding privacy settings and fostering responsible online behavior.” Social media literacy is a sub-set of media literacy and is an important layer to add to the conversation in a time when deep-fake videos and AI-generated content are ubiquitous. It includes “understanding the language, technology and impact of various social media platforms,” says Rinebarger.

When should parents start talking to their children about social media literacy?

These conversations should happen early. Even very young children can understand that an app that makes them look like a monster isn’t real. However, “these lessons get trickier when the kids get older and the differences get more subtle,” says Fitzsimmons. “It's easy for me to tell my 6-year-old that the puppy dog ear filter on Snapchat isn't real. It is harder to remind a teenager that the skin-smoothing filters, artful lighting and carefully chosen photo angle makes people look different on Instagram than they do in real life,” she explains.

When it comes to social media, parents should start talking to their children about social media literacy as soon as they start using the internet and accessing social media platforms, Sultan recommends. He says this will vary from family to family, but typically starts around age 8.

What are the risks of not teaching social media literacy?

According to Adam Chiara, an applied associate professor in the School of Communications at Hartford University, “information is power. If kids don't know how to discern quality information from incorrect information, they'll be missing out on opportunities and advantages, and at worst, be engaging in media that could be harmful and dangerous for them.”

Sultan explains that without media literacy skills children are susceptible to believing misinformation and “fake news.” They may also inadvertently compromise their privacy and security by inadvertently revealing where they live or go to school or disclosing information that makes it easy for someone to guess their passwords and access sensitive information.

There are social consequences as well. Children who do not have media literacy skills are more likely to engage in cyberbullying or other harmful online behaviors, Sultan says. They are also more likely to develop unhealthy relationships with social media and technology, he adds.

What are the social media literacy skills children need to learn?

Children need to learn five different skills in order to be literate in social media, Sultan says.

How to eealuate sources

Sultans says it's crucial for kids be able to understand “how to determine the credibility of a source, recognizing biases and identifying fake news.”

Fitzsimmons advises parents to instill “a healthy skepticism of the top results on Google and content posted on sources like Wikipedia.” Teaching children to check multiple sources to look for credible information is the next step, Sultan says. If a child comes across questionable material, a parent can help the child find other credible sources that cover the same topic to help their child evaluate what they find. Parents can show children that questionable images can be checked using a reverse image search to see if they have been altered.

Sultan adds that parents should teach children that “if you're still unsure about the content, it's better to err on the side of caution and … not to share or engage with the content until more information is available.”

Privacy and security

Second, children need to be literate in online privacy and security. This means “knowing how to protect personal information online, understanding privacy settings and being aware of potential dangers,” Sultan says. Fitzsimmons notes that she sees “grown adults who still fall for the online memes that ask people to post the answers to common security questions on their Facebook page.” Teaching children when it is safe to share photos publicly and “when it is appropriate to put their home address or phone number into a form is very important,” Fitzsimmons adds.

Sultan also recommends showing children phishing emails and texts to help them learn how to identify them on their own.

Digital etiquette

According to Sultan, digital etiquette involves “practicing responsible online behavior, such as not engaging in cyberbullying or sharing inappropriate content.”

Rinebarger says that encouraging perspective-taking by asking children to put themselves in someone else’s shoes can help them develop appropriate digital etiquette skills. Talking about the real-world consequences of poor digital etiquette can be helpful, too. Sharing embarrassing or inappropriate photos can lead to upset peers, discipline at school or open a child up to ridicule.

Critical thinking skills

Sultan says that “developing the ability to question, analyze and interpret the information they come across online” is a key part of being media literate. Fitzsimmons says that this goes beyond teaching children whether or not something is true. For example, if a child sees a video about a toy mentioning where it is sold and the price, that information is likely accurate. However, “it's also worthwhile to help them understand that the YouTuber is likely getting paid to try to sell that toy to their followers and so might be exaggerating how great the toy is,” Fitzsimmons says. One way to do this is by asking your child, “Do you think that influencer on social media got paid to make that post or not?” suggests Chiara.

When a child spots information they aren’t sure is credible, asking a parent for help and making a determination together can be a great teaching moment, Sultan says. Rinebarger tells parents to encourage children to ask questions suggested by Common Sense Media, including “Who made this? Who is the target audience? Does someone profit if you click on it? Who paid for this content? Who might benefit or be harmed by this message? What important information is left out of the message? Is this credible? Why or why not?”

Emotional intelligence skills

Finally, children must learn emotional intelligence skills and apply them to social media and online behavior. “Recognizing and managing emotions evoked by social media content, as well as empathy and respect for others' feelings” is important, Sultan says. Fitzsimmons says that parents should help children recognize that social media is not an accurate representation of anyone’s life. She believes children need to be taught that “what we put on social media is a self-selected view of what is happening in our lives” and that ”just because [people] aren't posting the moments when they are sad, discouraged or disappointed doesn't mean it isn't happening.”

How can parents reinforce the message?

Teaching media literacy isn’t something parents can teach by sitting their children down and having “the talk.” Instead, Chiara advises parents to raise the issue “whenever the opportunity arises” by looking for “organic moments” to ask their kids questions that make them think critically.

“Practice and build consistent habits," he says. Parents will know that their children have made progress by observing how they react to the media they consume. “When there's a questionable image, the instinct should be to do a Google reverse image search to see if the picture has been altered," he adds. "If they read a questionable story, the reflex should be to search if authoritative news sites or trusted organizations are reporting the same thing." Rinebarger advises parents to monitor their children’s online activity and gradually allow more independence when they see their teen “demonstrate trust, maturity and good media literacy skills.”

All of this might seem like a lot of work, but it’s well worth the effort. “While technology and media change, the ability to think critically transcends mediums," Chiara says. "By helping to teach your kids this vital skill, you're setting them up for a lifetime of knowledge, no matter how the information ecosystem evolves."

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