Teaching Media Literacy Protecting Your Mind from Manipulation
by William Jackson , Twitter @wmjackson
My Quest To Teach #MyQuestToTeach
The discussion continues about who is responsible
for allowing fake, false and manipulated news to gain
a foothold on American televisions and social media
platforms. As committees, subcommittees, discussion
groups, media “experts” and others that claim to know
the pulse of how the news runs share their knowledge
about fake, false and alternative news, the other
questions are who is going to help our kids recognize
this?
Teachers are tasked now to prepare students to
recognize, understand, interpret and even tell others
about fake news.
The reality is that even before Social Media news has
been manipulated, infused with propaganda, half-truths,
false lies, twisted perceptions and cognitive suggestions
to manipulate how people think, rationalize
and understand the social foundations of our
society.
The movie, entertainment and even food industries
globally have used music, sound bytes, actors, animation
and special effects to sway thinking and realities for
decades.
Listening to the testimonies of media experts during
hearings and social media marketers there is factual
truth that manipulation of the judgement of people h
ave been influenced in buying soft drinks, to washing
powder to tooth paste and the list continues.
“Media Literacy” is seen now as a priority because of
the potential influences.
Consumers are blasted with music that seems to
magically explode from tv’s, psychedelic shows of lights
and color telling consumers what to drink, where to shop
and even what to brush their teeth with. There is more
out in the media and cyberspace.
Media executives know how to draw the attention, the
mental attachments and even distractions to the brain
that allow for a change in perceptions and decision
making.
Teachers themselves have to be prepared to recognize the
mental manipulations that is alive on Social Media
platforms.
Parents even fall for media companies that go straight to
children and “suggest” what toys to buy, clothes to wear
and even how their interactions are supposed to be with
siblings and parents. The age of Social Media is an age
of digital engagement not one of social interactions that
require a physical connection and responsive actions.
NPR 2017, “a Stanford study showed that students at
practically all grade levels can’t determine fake
news from the real stuff, the push to teach media
literacy has gained new momentum.”
More needs to be done to prepare youth, teens and
young adults to mentally prepare and protect them from
elements that create a false sense of understanding
and knowledge.
Parents need to take the time to listen and learn how
the media and Social Media are allowing manipulation
from foreign governments, companies and even
advertisers that buy into mental manipulation that
is border-line brainwashing.
Additional issues are those students that are ELL –
English Language Learners that are vulnerable to
fake news.
Media literacy for ELL students is important because
they lack knowledge in the language they’re reading
and trying to comprehend. False news about
immigration, the rights of immigrants and even
refugees can have a major impact on their lives
and perceptions of their rights.
Educators are tasked with more responsibilities
to decipher, translate, comprehend and teach how
to protect against fake and false news. Professional
development is needed to empower educators to
teach their students at all grade levels.
Resources:
Teachers Fight Against Fake News
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/02/16/514364210/5-ways-teachers-are-fighting-fake-news
How Teachers Can Teach About Fake News
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/real-things-teachers-can-combat-fake-news
How to Protect Students from Fake News
http://www.edudemic.com/protect-students-fake-news/
Watch: Facebook, Twitter & Google to testify in House Russia
hearings https://youtu.be/ZG_MMjWjmoM