Media Literacy

For some reason the internet will never cease to amaze me. As we spoke about in class with our discussion of "Media Matters", the media is something we can't escape. It's in magazines, phones, computers, and all around us in the things people tell us. The internet is essentially a gigantic advertisement and media artifact which bring about all sorts of negative aspects within the vastness of its contents. Yet, it is an extremely useful resource which aided me in exploring and understanding media literacy as a whole.

I found a great website out of Canada. Check it out: Media Literacy

Here are there goals of the site:

"MNet focuses its efforts on equipping adults with information and tools to help young people understand how the media work, how the media may affect their lifestyle choices and the extent to which they, as consumers and citizens, are being well informed".

The website is directed toward informing parents and teachers of the media and its' effects on the younger generations. It is also keeping parents up to date on newer technology and issues such as online bullying which is an occurrence that has become more and more prevalent among pre-teens and teens.

I think sites like this one are so important to the guardian/child relationship in the teen years. Technology is developing at such a strong pace it has become almost impossible for parents and guardians to keep up with the texting and chatting of youth. This site is helpful in that it bridges the generational gap, and fills in parents about the dangers of modern media.

I thought this cartoon was hysterical but also very telling.



Doesn't it sometimes seem that the most fierce advertising is directed at young people? More so young girls?
I think there is something very disturbing about this.