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Critical Thinking About Digital Media
In recent years, our consumption of media has changed in
ways we could never have anticipated. Just as CNN’s 24-hour news cycle showed us
that news didn't have to sleep, independent bloggers and the popularity of
social media proved that media also didn't have to be newspaper- or
television-bound. The internet allows us all to take part in a public
dialogue—for better or worse. In this thoughtful and entertaining series,
students will explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of the new media wave:
from the fake news that tipped the 2016 US election to fun memes that brighten
our days; from weaponized social media hashtags like #HasJustineLandedYet to the
blessings and curses of living in a culture where any post, tweet, video, or
message can go viral in the blink of an eye.
• Extremely high-interest and
relevant topic as the online space—Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram,
Reddit—is where many students spend a significant amount of time and find
information
• Directly correlates with state journalism standards about
developing media literacy
• Supports the C3 Framework for Social Studies’
emphasis on being critical about the accuracy of sources
