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Vancouver Sun

Opinion: Why media literacy should be mandatory in B.C. classrooms

Article content In 2024, a staggering 64 per cent of Canadians admitted to not knowing how to fact-check information. Alarming, isn't it? Fortunately this statistic is entirely false, but if you felt any concern, you've just experienced the ease with which misinformation spreads. Article content Article content Statistics Canada reports that nearly half of Canadians struggle to differentiate between true and false information online, making media literacy more crucial than ever and something that must become a standard part of B.C.'s school curriculum. Article content Article content Teens are entering the digital landscape younger than ever. CNN reported that as of 2021 children as young as seven are navigating social media independently. Introducing mandatory media literacy into the B.C. curriculum will help equip students with the critical thinking skills necessary to analyze sources, verify information, recognize bias and employ social media as a productive tool. Article content According to Media Smarts, Canada's Centre for Digital Media Literacy, B.C.'s Education Ministry introduced a new curriculum framework in 2016 to reflect our technology-driven world. With input from experts, media literacy elements were incorporated into courses such as English language arts, social studies, and applied design. The ministry even developed the B.C. Digital Literacy Framework, emphasizing critical areas such as digital citizenship, ethical online behaviour and skills to evaluate digital information. Article content Article content Courses like New Media 11 and 12 are designed to help students understand the shifting role of technology in communication and the importance of digital platforms in exchanging ideas. These are steps in the right direction — but they remain optional and are often inaccessible to younger students. Right now, media literacy education is scattered, dependant on electives and educator discretion. This means that many students can graduate without ever being taught how to evaluate sources, spot disinformation or understand the algorithms that shape their online experiences. Article content