The UK government considering banning the sale of smartphones to children under the age of 16 after a number of polls have shown significant public support for such a curb. (via Guardian Tech) theguardian.com/technology/202…

The act, currently awaiting second reading, would make social media companies explicitly responsible for designing products so that they are safe for young people to use. (via CBC News) cbc.ca/news/canada/pr…

#GGSimon invites you to join us in saying #WeDeserveBetter .

Online abuse is never acceptable and we are taking action. Together, let’s create a safer and more respectful online world.

You can participate by: 👇

Did you see the house hippo pop up in the @museumofnature's feeds recently? Find out why the house hippo continues to be both a beloved symbol and an important media literacy reminder with the latest from our parent blogger Rebecca S: mediasmarts.ca/blog/everythin…

This Friday is the #DayofPink !

Help your Grade 6-8 consider how humour may be used to excuse casual prejudice and empower them to respond when they witness it: mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resour…

Far-right conspiracy theorists are claiming that “elites” will use the eclipse to control humanity, sway the presidential election, and everything else under the sun. (via David Gilbert WIRED) wired.com/story/solar-ec…

“I think that’s so beautiful we really do understand that people are sensitive to Indigenous issues [and] they care,” the singer says. “I think we just need a little bit more representation.” (via APTN News) aptnnews.ca/national-news/…

It’s #WorldHealthDay !

Next time you search for health information online, make sure you’re taking the steps to make sure the sources you’re finding are credible: youtube.com/watch?v=Hpwqzy…

The number of partisan news outlets in the US masquerading as legitimate journalism now equals genuine local newspaper sites, researchers say, as so-called pink slime operators gear up ahead of the presidential election. (via Hannah Murphy Ars Technica) arstechnica.com/tech-policy/20…

With  #DayofPink coming up, here’s a free lesson plan to introduce Grade 6-8 students to the idea of “calling in” (as opposed to “calling out”) when their friends or peers say or do prejudiced things online: mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resour…

A change to the rules that govern members at Queen’s Park means anyone who wants to intervene, speak or ask questions in an Indigenous language will be able to do so without asking permission for the first time in the province’s history. (via Globalnews.ca) globalnews.ca/news/10403968/…

Some Canadian high school girls want to take their “pink tax” fight to the House of Commons, calling on the federal government to scrap an “unfair pricing practice” that research suggests discriminates against women. (via Saba Aziz Globalnews.ca) globalnews.ca/news/10402228/…

It’s the International #DayofConscience !

Use this free lesson plan to teach Grade 4-6 students about empathy and the ways in which digital communications can make it harder to feel empathy for others: mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resour…

A new documentary delves into the secret world of incels and shows how people can spiral outside of reality (via CBC Docs) cbc.ca/documentaries/…

Despite recent improvements in image quality, AI-generated images frequently present a simplistic, whitewashed version of queer life. (via WIRED) wired.com/story/artifici…

Everywhere we turn, we’re hearing about artificial intelligence, but how many of us actually understand what algorithms and #AI really are? We’re breaking it down so you can help youth make the most out of it: mediasmarts.ca/blog/understan…

April 7 is #WorldHealthDay !

Here’s a free lesson plan to teach Grade 9-10 students about how news coverage of mental illness reinforce stigma: mediasmarts.ca/lesson-plan/sc…

Do you have a favourite #AprilFoolsDay joke from this year? I know we do! 🦛 (via Josh Pringle CTV News) Museum of Nature
ottawa.ctvnews.ca/a-look-at-some…