By Jennifer Ladner
Have you sent a text, used a social media site, talked on a cell phone, watched television, or used a tablet today? Could you go 24 hours without the internet or your cell phone? Media and communication technologies play an important role in our daily lives, but many of us worry about the impact that it has on our children.
Not only are we concerned with the amount of time children spend in front of a screen, but we are also concerned about the content they absorb. Media literacy allows children (and families) to become more aware of both intended and unintended media messages. Children learn to create and think critically about these media messages. These skills allow children to take control of the media that surrounds them, rather than letting it control them. Here are 10 reasons why media literacy should be on your radar.
1. We live in a media-saturated world.
Many of us walk around with wireless technology in the palm of our hands. Media and communication technologies are increasingly becoming integrated into our every waking moment. According to a study by Common Sense Media, 52 percent of 5- to 8-year-olds have used some form of mobile media. We tweet, text, post and talk all day and yet sometimes we feel very disconnected from the people around us. Many have trouble disconnecting even on vacation.
2. Children today spend an average of 28-32 hours per week in front of a screen according to Nielsenwire.com.
Another report by the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that children spend more time with various media (an average of 7 hours per day) than they do in any other daily activity other than sleeping.
3. Health effects of media.
Among the many health concerns, various studies suggest a strong relationship between high exposure to violence in the media and aggressive behavior, as well as a strong correlation between heavy television viewing and obesity, substance use, and increased sexual activity at younger ages. One report by the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that when children have a television in their bedroom, risk of being overweight increases by 31% and their chances of smoking doubles. Many children have a television in their bedroom by the age of three.
4. Advertising is a self-regulated industry.
Government regulations are limited, especially when it comes to advertising on the internet. The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) is a Self-Regulatory Program designed by the National Advertising Review Council (NARC) in 1974. According to the program guidelines, “The standards take into account the special vulnerabilities of children.” Does this seem like an effective program to you?
5. Diversity of opinion in the media is lacking.
The majority of all media is controlled by just five media conglomerates including Disney, Time Warner, Murdoch’s News Corporation, Bertelsmann of Germany, and Viacom. Columbia Journalism Review’s website (http://www.cjr.org/resources/) allows one to look up newspapers, radio stations, magazines and production studios that are owned by various companies. Flipping through hundreds of television channels makes it seems like we have endless choices, but the sources of the information are extremely limited.
6. Turning off the computer or television does not solve the problem.
From the billboards that line the highways to the teenager with the logo on his T-shirt in front of you at the check-out counter, media messages surround us on a daily basis. Try to write down the name of all the advertisements and logos that you encounter in a day and you will quickly realize how much media penetrates your life. Becoming media literate increases one’s awareness of media and its impact on each of our lives.
7. Children need media literacy skills to be successful in any career in a digital world.
Whether one chooses to learn a trade or obtain a college degree, most children will enter a career that requires some technical competency and comfort with some form of media. Children with media literary skills will be better prepared for a successful future.
8. Literacy in a digital world requires more than reading and writing skills.
It requires the ability to create and think critically about media messages. The development of these skills will have a lasting impact for children in their personal lives and professional endeavors.
9. It is about maximizing the benefits and minimizing the potential harm.
There is conflicting evidence on the value of technology on child development. In addition to the health concerns mentioned earlier, research has also shown media can be powerful tools for teaching and learning. Children have displayed increased cognitive and social abilities when media are used effectively. Studies have also shown benefits for children with special needs, home-school connections, and dual-language learners according to a joint position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College.
10. Media literacy skills are part of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, 21 Century Skills and Common Core State Standard Initiatives.
Educators across the country recognize the need for these skills, but many are faced with budget cuts that make it difficult to purchase technologies and train teachers.
This article was updated January 13, 2016. A previous version of this article was published on September 5, 2012, at Telegram.com (http://www.telegram.com/article/20120905/NEWS/120909939/0)
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