You wouldn’t give kids keys to a car without first giving them driving lessons, so why are we letting kids access the internet and social media without first providing them with media literacy education?
Media messages shape young people’s perceptions — whether negative or positive — about body image, healthy eating, gender and racial stereotypes, self-esteem, substance abuse, and other public health issues. Online experiences can present serious privacy and safety threats when young people are not educated about these dangers. And internet, social media, and emerging AI have expanded our access to information, including false and misleading information. Media literate students become informed citizens, and media consumers and creators. I ask you to sponsor and support bills that provide media literacy education to K-12 students.
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