Parenting, Media Literacy, and Diversity

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Post by Johanna Sam, doctoral student in the Human Development, Learning, and Culture Program at the University of British Columbia. Johanna also has her own blog called: First Nations and Over-Urbanization.

This is the kick off to Media Literacy Week! Media literacy is being able to use, understand, and create digital media content needed to communicate with others using technology. The theme for #MedLitWeek is “Inclusion in a Connected World: A Place and a Voice for Everyone” to promote diverse voices online.

There has been a growing concern about the spread of online hate and cyberbullying. Online hate generally refers to a mindset or point of view where individuals define themselves in opposition to another group. This type of online hatred can be targeted at one or more groups. Some groups are more targeted than others online, for instance ethnic minorities, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ+ communities, and individuals living with mental illness or addictions. Youth may also be coming across hateful content that relates to physical appearance, beauty norms, clothing, popularity, hobbies or interests, success in sports, or other peer pressures. What is constant in online hate is the perception that all members of the disliked group have negative characteristics that make them a threat and justifies any action taken against them.

Youth exposed to online hate may feel judged from posts. Teens are trying to find their way and grow their own identities, which may be threatened by a sense of difference online. Youth may now experience overt discrimination that they might not have faced before. Youth encounter hateful material online in two ways. First, there is a slight chance teens may be exposed to media created by organized hate groups or individuals who identify with them. More likely, youth are exposed to cultures of hatred, which are online communities or places where hate has become normalized.

How can caregivers help youth respond to hateful online comments?

  • Encourage empathy: tweens and teens are aware of social group membership, which also helps them understand the views of others
  • Social norming: tweens and teens are surrounded by trusted adults, such as caregivers and teachers, who can role model or provide examples of inclusive online posts and behavior
  • Be aware and ready: everyday situations will provide moments to teach lessons about diversity that may arise from pop culture or news

How do caregivers talk to young people about online hate and discrimination?

  • Think about what you want to say in advance
  • Find a quiet moment and space to have a conversation
  • Share your own values and opinions and get tweens / teens to talk about theirs
  • Find out what your tweens / teens already know or have seen by asking them questions or to share a recent experience
  • Tell the truth and history of discrimination
  • Reassure tweens / teens that they may ask you questions or talk about this topic again in the future
  • If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, you may want to consider talking to someone who could help, such as, other family members, teachers, or healthcare providers

A few resources:

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Teens are Suffering from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

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Post by Natasha Parent, Graduate student in the Human Development, Learning, and Culture Program at the University of British Columbia.

Although this blog and website is primarily focused on the issue of cyberbullying, there are other topics relevant to kids and technology, such as FOMO, that are having a negative impact on mental health.

What is it and how can we help? FOMO or the “Fear Of Missing Out” is the fear that others elsewhere are having more fun, or that you are missing out on a rewarding experience.  It can lead to feelings of anxiety, envy, insecurity, and loneliness. Nowadays, teens quantify their popularity through “likes”, “views”, “friends” and “followers” on social media sites, such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter. This can lead to FOMO by making teens feel left out, uncool, and lonely.

How to recognize FOMO: If your tweens or teens are saying things like “I wish I was there”, “They’re having so much fun without me”, or “I wish I was that cool”, they may be experiencing FOMO.

How to respond to FOMO: Talk about what’s being posted and what isn’t: People show their best face on social media. A lot of what is posted online these days is superficial, staged, or fabricated. Remind your tweens and teens that people are only posting about their peak moments (vacations, accomplishments, photos in which they look particularly good). No one posts about the unappealing aspects of their lives (going to the dentist, grocery shopping with their parents, doing their least favourite chore).  Everyone is doing these things too; they just aren’t posting about it!

Conversation starters: “Do you think their life is always like this?” “Why do you think they posted this?” “How would you feel if you didn’t know what they were doing right now?”

Despite our understanding of FOMO and how it can contribute to feelings of anxiety, envy, insecurity, and loneliness, it’s important to remember that technology is not the enemy. It’s true that maladaptive or over-use of technology can lead to problems among teens. However, this same technology can be extremely beneficial to the development of their social networks, self-esteem, and confidence. Most importantly, taking away the technology can harm tweens’ and teens’ relationships with their friends and could push them further “out of the loop”.

Read more about FOMO:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/why-we-worry/201612/social-media-loneliness-and-anxiety-in-young-people

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/mind-healing-conquer-fomo-fear-missing/

 https://yourteenmag.com/technology/fomo

Read more about the positive effects of social media:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/21/living/social-media-positives-teens-parents/

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