Response To Meta’s Decision To End Fact-Checking

Source: www.pexels.com

In previous LIAS blogs we have been highlighting the importance of digital/ news literacy to decipher misinformation. Below is a response by the News Literacy Project (NLP) on Meta’s recent decision to end fact-checking on their platforms. To view their original statement, click here.

 

Guest Blog from The News Literacy Project

In response to the announcement that Meta will end fact-checking on Instagram, Facebook and Threads, the News Literacy Project released the following statement:

Meta is removing measures that mitigate the spread of false, harmful information on their platforms, and social media users will suffer because of it. These users already are vulnerable to manipulation by malicious actors promoting unreliable sources and information engineered to exploit our cognitive biases, including the desire to confirm our preexisting ideas and beliefs.

“This move demonstrates that Meta has largely given up on moderation efforts that remind people of the facts and encourage people to seek out credible, standards-based sources of information. Productive, respectful civic discourse requires moderation and agreed-upon principles – like civility, an acknowledgement of strong evidence and an acceptance of facts. This kind of responsible moderation is not ‘censorship,’ it provides the foundation for honest, fact-based discourse,” said Peter Adams, Senior Vice President of Research and Design at the News Literacy Project.

“Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to end Meta’s fact-checking program not only removes a valuable resource for users, but it also provides an air of legitimacy to a popular disinformation narrative: That fact-checking is politically biased. Fact-checkers provide a valuable service by adding important context to the viral claims that mislead and misinform millions of users on Meta,” said Dan Evon, lead writer for RumorGuard®, the News Literacy Project’s digital tool that curates fact checks and teaches people to spot viral misinformation.

The News Literacy Project’s public policy statements call on social media companies to:

• Provide and enforce clear community standards.
• Pursue the removal of malicious accounts, including those dedicated to pushing extremism and disinformation.
• Design adjustment of algorithms to reduce the spread of misinformation, promote credible information, and help reverse political division and polarization.

You may also be interested in NLP’s TikTok on this topic: https://www.tiktok.com/@newslitproject/video/7457651435069689134

MORE ABOUT...

The News Literacy Project is a nonpartisan nonprofit building a national movement to ensure that all students are skilled in news literacy before high school graduation, giving them the knowledge and ability to participate in civic society as well-informed, critical thinkers. Founded in 2008, NLP is the country’s leading provider of news literacy education and works with educators in all 50 states. Learn more at newslit.org.

 

Girls, Social Media and Mental Health (Part 2)

Source: www.unsplash.com

By Sam Piha

This is one blog in a series of blogs regarding the issue of social media and youth mental health. 

Body Image





“It ultimately really affected my body image, my perception of what was considered beautiful or accepted into society. But the only thing I was getting out of social media was feeling fatigued, or I would feel sad.” [i] - Lea Nepomuceno, 18, a freshman at George Washington University

 

According to Reagan Lord, “In the digital era, social media has become an integral part of teenagers’ daily lives. With the click of a button, they can access a world of curated images and videos that often depict idealized versions of beauty and perfection. As a result, many young people find themselves comparing their own bodies to those of influencers and celebrities, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. In this blog post, we will explore the ways in which social media can impact teenagers’ body image and discuss strategies for promoting a healthy self-image in today’s online world.



Source: Ruling Our
Experiences (ROX)

Social media has a profound influence on teenagers’ body image, often perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards that can lead to negative self-perceptions and mental health issues. However, by raising awareness of these risks and implementing strategies to promote a healthy body image, we can help young people navigate the digital world with confidence and self-assurance. It is essential for parents, educators, and society as a whole to prioritize the well-being of teenagers and provide them with the tools they need to develop a positive relationship with their bodies. By fostering a culture of self-acceptance and authenticity, we can empower the next generation to embrace their uniqueness and value themselves for who they are, rather than how they appear online.” [ii]

KidsHealth.org offers the following advice: 

 

“How Can I Accept the Way I Look?:  Some people think they need to get in better shape to have a good body image. They think, “When I get in better shape, I’ll like my body.” But it’s best to start the other way around. Accept yourself first. Here are ways to do that:

• Realize that nobody’s perfect. Everyone has "flaws," even people with seemingly ideal figures. So, see your body the way it is rather than the way you want it to be.
• Don’t body-shame yourself. When you make harsh comments about your own body, it harms your self-esteem. That’s true whether you say something out loud or think it to yourself. It can hurt as much as if someone else said it. So be kind and respectful to yourself. Ask, “Would I talk this way to my best friend?” Treat yourself like a good friend would.
• Don’t compare yourself with other people. The saying goes “comparison is the thief of joy.” Find things to like about your own body and be thankful for all the great things it can do.
• Accept compliments. When someone gives you a compliment, say “thank you” instead of not believing what’s being said. 

“How Can I Like My Body?:  When you accept your body, it’s possible to learn to love (or at least like) what you have. Here’s how:

• Find things to like about your looks. Every time you look in the mirror, find at least two things you like about yourself. Maybe your hair, face, or hands. What about your shape, shoulders, or legs? Your eyes or smile? Make a habit of telling yourself what you like and why. If you get stuck, ask someone who cares about you, like a good friend or trusted adult. Know that there’s lots to like about you. Let yourself feel good.
• Focus on what your body can do. There’s more to your body than your looks. When you play a sport, walk, run, dance, or swim — that’s your body in action. Your body is there for you when you stretch, reach, climb, or jump for joy. It also allows you to you carry and build things, and give someone a hug. Be amazed and thankful.
• Be aware of your body. Pay attention to your body as you go through the day. Enjoy the way it feels when you walk, run, and play. Listen to it when it needs food or rest. Things like yoga can help you observe your body more closely, teaching you to pay attention to how you breathe and move.” [iii]

“People try to make you feel bad about what you’re doing or how you look.” [iv] – Teen girl 

 

Source: www.pexels.com

Photo Filters

According to the Boys & Girls Club of America, “Teens are inundated daily by digitally manipulated images. For instance, more than 69% of U.S. teens use Snapchat2, a multi-media instant photo messaging app known for its image filters. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter also offer various forms of photo enhancements. And, there are hundreds of photo editing apps, like Facetune and Picsart, that take these editing capabilities even further. It’s no surprise that 80% of girls say they’ve downloaded a filter or used an app to change the way they look in photos by the time they’re 13 years old.

One of the many problems with image filters is that young people scrolling through their social feeds often don’t know they’re being used, mistaking enhancements and airbrushing as reality. A 2017 study in the journal Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications found that subjects only correctly identified manipulated images 60% to 65% of the time3. The pervasiveness of digitally-altered images is now having a profound impact on girls’ expectations and understanding of societal beauty standards and how they see themselves.” [v]

“Research conducted by the Dove Self-Esteem Project in 2020 revealed startling insights:

• 80% of girls have downloaded a filter or used an app to change the way they look in photos by age 13.
• 67% of girls try to change or hide at least one body part/feature before posting a photo of themselves.
• 59% of girls with lower-reported body-esteem regularly distort their photos before posting them on social media.
• 37% of girls say they don’t “look good enough” without any photo editing.” [vi]



“With the rise of social media, digital distortion is now happening on a much bigger scale, by younger people, without regulation…when editing apps are used to digitally distort images to conform to unrealistic beauty standards that cannot be achieved in real life, it can damage young people’s self-esteem. Dove wants to highlight this issue and provide tools to parents and caregivers to help young people navigate social media in a positive way.” [vii] —  Firdaous El Honsali, Global Communications & Sustainability Director, Dove 

Source: ROX

“Their experiences are beginning to reveal to them the various ways that social media has impacted their relationships, confidence, body image and decisions and they don't want that same experience for their younger peers or siblings. ... As adolescent and teen girls spend more time on social media platforms, constantly exposed to information and feedback from others about their appearance, successes, failures, conflicts, and more, life challenges that may have been minor blips can become magnified and take a toll on their well-being.” [viii] - Lisa Hinkelman, founder and CEO of Ruling Our eXperiences, a nonprofit focused on research and programming about girls. 

To read and download our briefing paper, Social Media and Youth Mental Health, click here.

To watch our webinar on this topic, click here. 

END NOTES

[i] The Associated Press, In Their Own Words: What Young People Wish They’d Known About Social Media

[ii] Reagan Lord, The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers’ Body Image

[iii] Kidshealth.org, Body Image and Self-Esteem

[iv] Monica Anderson, et. al., Connection, Creativity and Drama: Teen Life on Social Media in 2022

[v] Boys & Girls Club of America, Digital Distortion: How Filters are Changing the Way Girls See Themselves

[vi] Boys & Girls Club of America, #TheSelfieTalk: A Must-Have Conversation with Kids in the Digital Age

[vii] IBID.

[viii] Suzanne Blake, Teens Willing To Give Parents Control of Their Social Media

Social Media and Mental Health: Students Share Their Top Strategies for Striking a Balance Online

Source: www.pexels.com

Guest blog from The Social Institute

This is one blog in a series of blogs regarding the issue of social media and youth mental health. 

With teens reaching for their phones an average of 100 times daily, educators and families are looking to find positive strategies to empower students to strike a balance online and offline. 

At The Social Institute, we believe that gradually introducing students to social media is key to preparing them for a tech-fueled world. Recently, students shared their insights with CBS on how to coach younger peers in proactive social media use. 

From setting online time limits to taking social media ‘detoxes,’ let’s explore advice from high school and college students and how educators can guide students this school year:

Striking a balance with tech: Insights from older students

CBS recently huddled with students to gather their insights on tech use and what they wish they had known before diving into the online world. 

For many students preparing to graduate high school and begin their college journey, technology plays a significant role in their lives and will continue to do so. With 91% of students owning a smartphone by age 14, many have become experts at navigating social media platforms in positive ways. By elevating student voices and learning from their experiences, educators can share valuable tips with others on how to maintain a healthy balance with tech.

Here’s what these students had to say about managing social media:

Set time limits: “If there was advice that I could give to my younger self, it would be to tell my parents to set up time limits for me — even though I would have never said that when I was starting social media.” –Sienne, 17

Take time to interact with the world around you: “You can use social media to amplify your passions, but to do that you need to do a lot of work outside of social media, to discover who you are as a person, what matters to you, and what contributions you can make to the world.” –Lea, 18, 

Monitor screen time and set tech-free breaks: “When you first get these apps, it hits you — like, BOOM, there is so much content. Styles, fashion models. It really impacts you heavily when you first get it, this feeling of: ‘How do they do it? How do they look like this? How do they get clothes like that?‘ When you’re new to social media, these trends can overtake you. I started to use Screen Time (monitoring) on my phone and limit the amount of time I am on social media. I’ve been taking phone detoxes. On weekends, I’ll take a social media detox for 10 hours or the majority of the day. I’ll hang out with my family, ride my bike. I only have notifications for my messages and workspaces. I don’t have any notifications on for social media apps.” –Ava, 18

Social media is not real life: “It’s so easy to look at your friends’ stories and feel this feeling of FOMO, of missing out and comparing yourself, like: ‘Oh, my friend just got a new car.‘ It’s like this overwhelming sense of comparison, but the things that people post on social media, it’s just the highlight reel, like the 1% of their life that they want to showcase to other people.” –Bao, 18

Given that 75% of students view their teachers as role models and mentors, educators have a powerful influence in empowering students to navigate social media and technology in positive, high-character ways.

When students feel like they have a voice, they're more motivated, engaged, and find purpose in school. By huddling with students on these strategies, educators can meet students where they are and create a positive learning environment. 

The Social Institute’s Take: Helping Students Navigate Technology

Striking a healthy balance with technology is essential for prioritizing key activities like studying, pursuing hobbies, and spending time with friends. For younger students, getting a new device or an Instagram account can be thrilling, leading them to spend significant time online. While social media offers great opportunities for connection and learning, it's best used in moderation to ensure students can focus on what truly matters to them.

Here are some tips to help young students ease into technology and manage screen time effectively in the classroom:

1. Introduce the Screen Time Pyramid: The Screen Time Pyramid helps students understand that not all screen time is equal, guiding them to balance online activities like connecting, socializing, learning, and relaxing.



2. Gradually Introduce Technology: Platforms like Zigazoo, the world’s largest social network for students, provide a community where young learners are introduced to technology in a controlled environment. This approach empowers them to make positive online choices through project-based learning, mentorship, and innovative strategies. Learn more about it here!

3. Seek Student Voice: Engage your class by discussing tips for striking a balance with technology. Amplify their voices by asking for their own advice on managing screen time.

When students are encouraged to balance their tech use, they are better equipped to make decisions that support their health, happiness, and future success. For more ideas on how educators can inspire students to balance their screen time, explore our #WinAtSocial lesson, Learning from the pros and balancing time on tech to reach our goals.

To read and download our briefing paper, Social Media and Youth Mental Health, click here.

To watch our webinar on this topic, click here.