Essential News Literacy Skills for Today's Kids
Practical tips to boost your child's digital well-being when upsetting content takes over their social media feed.
When scary news and disturbing images flood our feeds, building healthy tech habits helps us—and our kids—manage. Practicing these skills is even more important when our kids are trying to understand what's happening in the world, who to trust, and what to believe.
Media and technology are helpful for keeping us informed, but sometimes it can all feel like a nonstop cycle of negativity. Protecting your digital well-being includes knowing when to step away from our devices and when we feel safe enough to engage. When we regulate our own emotions, we can better support our kids—whether that's helping them take a break or finding ways to take action.
Here are some tips to help kids sort through news content and make space for family conversations.
Find trusted sources.
Confirm information by checking multiple news outlets and firsthand accounts. Be cautious of headlines and short videos that leave out context. Then decide how much detail to share and discuss with your child, based on their age and sensitivity. Heads up: While your tween or teen might have already come across information from content creators, they may still need your guidance to get full context and make sense of complex situations.
Discuss your values.
Many kids will have questions about events. Be ready to explain facts, opinions, and misinformation. Have conversations about safety, helping others, and your family's values. Talk about what's important to your family and how this is shaped by your experiences, identities, cultures, and more. This allows kids and teens to voice their developing values and gives you the chance to share your thoughts.
Practice critical ignoring.
Critical thinking is a must when reading and watching news events—but so is critical ignoring. Help your kid choose what information to pay attention to and what to ignore, based on its reliability and usefulness. Set limits for notifications and screen time to filter out distractions and low-quality info. Also, show kids how to avoid engagement bait by identifying content that tries to manipulate your feelings. Not everything deserves a reaction or your attention. Empower kids to ignore, flag, block, and report accounts that push toxic content.
Clear your algorithm.
Explain that social media and news outlets compete for attention, which affects what people might see. Use your app and device settings to reset your algorithm or delete your history to refresh your feed. Monitor kids' online activity and consider parental controls if needed. Additional resources For more information on how to talk with your kids about a recent tragedy, please visit the National Association of School Psychologists or the American Psychological Association. If your or your child are in need of immediate mental or emotional support, call or text the 988 Crisis and Suicide Text Line.
Additional resources
For more information on how to talk to your kids about a recent tragedy, please visit the National Association of School Psychologists or the American Psychological Association. If your or your child are in need of immediate mental or emotional support call or text the 988 Crisis and Suicide Text Line.
Republished with permission from Common Sense Media.
About the Author
Jasmine Hood Miller is the Director of Family Resources and Content Strategy at Common Sense Media. With a background in marketing and media, she leads the organization’s parent advice and family engagement efforts, designed within a framework of digital equity and inclusion. Through this lens, Jasmine creates resources, content, and events to support parents and caregivers, and is passionate about addressing the unique experiences and concerns of BIPOC families raising kids in a digital world. Jasmine holds a BA in Communications from Temple University and is a former board member of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE). Along with being a busy parent to three young children, a pet, and lots of plants, she enjoys DIY projects, independent film, and traveling.
Free Webinar: Digital Literacy and Wellbeing for K-8
Join Sue Thotz, Director of Regional Outreach, Common Sense Education, as she unveils Common Sense Media’s NEW Digital Literacy & Well-Being Curriculum—designed specifically for the realities that students face today.
Explore Digital Literacy Resources
Looking for classroom-ready ways to strengthen these skills? Browse our collection of digital literacy lessons, activities, and professional learning resources designed for grades 6–12.
Empowering educators and students with resources to harness the power of technology for learning and life. For more information about Common Sense Education and to access our many free lessons and resources, visit our website.
Advertisement
