Digital Literacy
Healthy Screen Time For the Whole House
Self Esteem & Social Media
Accuracy & Advertising Online
It can be easy, for adults and children alike, to spend too much time in front of screens.
Modelling healthy relationships with your devices will help children and teens do the same. Use these best practices to get started!
- Plan activities away from devices. It’s sometimes the “default” activity to sit on the couch in front of your TV, or on other devices. Find other ways to relax, like time outside, cooking, or reading.
If you access porn or have nude images or videos on your devices, make sure this content is password protected.
Practice “screen-free” time for meals and social activities.
Media “multitasking” can make it hard to focus on homework.
Avoid device use for an hour before bed – this can impact sleep quality.
It’s easy to spend a lot of time on social media.
The platforms are meant to draw you in and keep you entertained. It’s natural to compare yourself to others, but constantly comparing yourself to people on social media can lower self-esteem.
In general, people only post the most exciting parts of their lives on social media. Because of this, social media isn’t an accurate standard to judge yourself against. Many people also edit their photos or use filters in videos to look taller, skinnier, or more attractive online. Social media doesn’t look like real life.
Many things you come across online aren’t checked for accuracy.
This is especially true on social media. For kids, it can be even harder to tell if something is an advertisement or not. Many companies hire influencers (social media celebrities) to promote their product. The posts these influencers make are required to be labelled as ads but often are not. Improve children’s digital filters by looking at social media together – practice being able to tell the difference between regular and sponsored posts.
Other Ways to Improve Your Digital Filter
These best practices are important for both adults and children – absorbing media without a filter can lead to issues with body image, self-esteem, spending, and bias.
- Discuss the stereotypes and types of bodies that are featured in media. It is often unrealistic and unhealthy for people to look like the people you see online – advertisers use unachievable standards to sell products.
- Make researched purchasing decisions instead of relying on advertisements as the only source of information. Take time to think purchases over, read reviews, and compare prices.
- Try to spot biased media – many online publications look like news organizations but have a political bias. Compare multiple sources to better understand a topic or event.
