Media Literacy Week 2021: Today's digital citizens need digital literacy skills

Monday, 25 October 2021 08:00.AM

Canadians are spending more time online during the pandemic and this year's Media Literacy Week aims to put the spotlight on the essential digital literacy skills needed by today's digital citizens.

Canada's 16th annual Media Literacy Week runs from October 25 to 30. Hosted by MediaSmarts, Canada's centre for digital and media literacy, the annual event invites all Canadians - teachers, students, seniors, community groups, libraries and museums - to celebrate by engaging in digital media literacy activities.

"Digital media literacy has become essential now that our lives have moved even more online," says Kathryn Ann Hill, Executive Director at MediaSmarts. "Media Literacy Week is an opportunity to be mindful of how we engage with media - whether it's checking the information we see online, thinking critically about the popular culture we're consuming or focusing on our digital wellbeing."

With the week's activities going online, Canadians everywhere have the chance to join events held by MediaSmarts and collaborating organizations, including digital parenting workshops, Break the Fake workshops and seminars on topics ranging from AI to cybersecurity.

To celebrate the week, MediaSmarts has also created five themed days with free resources anyone can use and a Media Literacy Week Teachers' Hub with curated lessons and activities for students from kindergarten to Grade 12.

''Access to reliable information is key to a healthy society and democracy. Unfortunately, we have seen disinformation increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this, we all need to develop media and information literacy competencies. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO is therefore very proud to support MediaSmarts' activities in this field.''
– Roda Muse, Secretary General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO

SOURCE: MediaSmarts