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Digital Media Literacy
Podcast

Digital Media Literacy

Empathizing with the Internet

Mohit Rajhans and Kara Brisson-Boivin
The Walrus, 2022
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Controversial
  • Innovative
  • Applicable

Recommendation

This podcast by The Walrus features Mohit Rajhans interviewing Kara Brisson-Boivin, Director of Research at MediaSmarts, a charity promoting digital literacy in Canada. She draws your attention to some critical considerations about digital literacy, especially for the young. Brisson-Boivin’s research reveals how hate groups use digital media for recruitment, in part by drawing on material from users who are not overt haters. She explains why algorithms and recommendation engines, even when they offer users a range of options, are hazardous to the truth. Parents concerned about what their children may be doing online – and, indeed, anyone who is active online – will want to understand these risks.

Take-Aways

  • MediaSmarts, a Canadian nonprofit advocating digital literacy, found that online communications promoting hate can be subtle. 
  • Users should turn to fact-checking sites such as Snopes and tools such as Wikipedia to confirm or debunk online content.
  • Parents worry about young people’s screen time, but the “quality” of the material kids see matters more.

About the Podcast

Director of Research at MediaSmarts (MediaSmarts.ca) Kara Brisson-Boivin spoke with host Mohit Rajhans on The Walrus.

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