There’s no single “right age” for a first phone. What matters is whether your child is ready... and whether you’re ready to help them use it well! https://ow.ly/RBoZ50ZwA56

Happy World Wide Web Day! 🌐 There’s a lot to love about the online world. There’s also a lot we shouldn’t take at face value. Learn four simple ways to figure out what’s real online: https://ow.ly/Ly3H50ZuX9P

2025 was a busy year for MediaSmarts! We reached more educators, families and young people with research, resources, workshops and national initiatives to build digital media literacy across Canada. See more in our 2025 Annual Report: https://ow.ly/cpbL50ZtY0H

Here's a quick way for your family to develop better screen habits this summer. 💡 For more tips: https://ow.ly/jJGt50ZqJy8

When was the last time you chose NOT to take a photo because you wanted to stay in the moment? Our parent blogger is reflecting on the pros and cons of living life with a camera in your pocket: https://ow.ly/VPaT50Zq2oJ

Most kids think that their parents are way more tech-savvy than they really are! That’s why we need to be ready to talk to them about all of the tools, tech and devices in their lives – including AI. 👉 https://ow.ly/5PgY50ZnjFx

Summer vacation is here and many parents are wondering if it's time to get their child a first cellphone. But are they ready? Our director of education @matthewfjohnson.bsky.social told @insidehalton.bsky.social why maturity matters more than age. www.insidehalton.com/news/child-f...

Is your kid begging for a cellphone this summer? Before you head to the store, Ontario experts share signs to look for

Read the full guide on the red flags that mean you should wait, how to build a family contract together, and the new "tin can" Wi-Fi devices designed to keep kids safe without full smartphone access.

insidehalton.com

Parenting tip for #SocialMediaDay ⭐ The most important thing you can do to help teens navigate social media safely is have an open and ongoing conversation with them about the media that they watch and interact with. Read our TikTok guide for more tips: https://ow.ly/yb0o50ZekWp

Worried about your kid's screen time? Rules help, but the real goal is helping them build healthy habits they actually stick to. Here are our research-backed tips for parents: https://ow.ly/1r3C50ZelG2

📚✨ Win an early copy of Fake Gnus! We’re teaming up with House of Anansi Press to give away three advance copies of Fake Gnus, the new children’s book by author and illustrator Leslie Helakoski. Enter here: https://ow.ly/Xo3p50ZejYx

It’s time to save the date! 🗓️ Media Literacy Week returns for its 21st year from October 26-30, 2026. Keep an eye out for exciting updates about this year’s event (and more on MediaSmarts 30th anniversary!). www.medialiteracyweek.ca

For #WorldMusicDay, read our tips for parents on how to manage music in the home: https://ow.ly/yZOE50Zei74

Wow, June! 😅 We thought May was busy... Here are a few tips, from one parent to another, to make this month a little bit easier: https://mediasmarts.ca/blog/schools-almost-out-summer-long-you-can-survive-june

School’s (almost) out for summer. As long as you can survive June.

Another school year is coming to an end, and parents everywhere are looking at their June calendars wondering how everything is going to fit into a few short weeks.

mediasmarts.ca

Hate often spreads by dividing people into “us” and “them.” For 30 years, MediaSmarts has helped Canadians push back through digital media literacy education. Support this work and our 30th anniversary with a donation today: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/9910

Hate propaganda can sometimes be disguised as a reasonable argument. But if you learn to spot these signs, you’ll recognize hate messages whether they’re in a post, an article, a video or a meme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy_8ETI8GlU

MediaSmarts Talks...Canadian authors advocating for digital media literacy! We're joined by Janie Chang and Susan Juby to learn about a new initiative and to rally Canada's literary community around mandatory digital media literacy in schools. Watch now: https://youtu.be/bIH-VwI4ZKs

There’s still time to nominate (or self-nominate!) 🚨 Know someone helping create a safer, more informed and inclusive digital world? We’re recognizing one youth leader and one educator for our first MediaSmarts Digital Media Literacy Awards! Apply by June 17, 2026! https://ow.ly/9nLJ50Z9ue4

This discussion was part of the launch of Evidence for Democracy’s latest report on the evolution of misinformation in Canada. Watch the full panel recording on our YouTube: youtu.be/65QPQ6ysCaU?... @mediasmarts.bsky.social

Webinar: The Misinformation Challenge – How to Rebuild Trust in a Post-Truth World

According to Canada’s Foreign Interference Commissioner, misinformation and disinformation pose the single greatest threat to Canadian democracy today, an ongoing problem that has been amplified in…

youtu.be

MediaSmarts would like to extend a sincere thank you to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon for granting viceregal patronage to MediaSmarts and supporting our work to advance digital media literacy in Canada. https://mediasmarts.ca/about-us/patron

Did you know that some of our lesson plans come with plug and play video versions? We’ve designed them for teachers to present with minimal prep time (which just might come in handy around the end of the school year!). Here’s one for Grades 3-5: https://ow.ly/vtbj50Z8bmo

Happy Pride Month, Canada! 🏳️‍🌈🇨🇦 We’re proud to offer resources for exploring 2SLGBTQ+ representation in media and other relevant topics. Find general information, lesson plans and workshops here: https://ow.ly/qhBB50Z7XT6

Giveaway! 🎉📖 We’ve partnered with House of Anansi Press to give you the chance to win one of three advanced copies of Fake Gnus, the new children’s book written and illustrated by Leslie Helakoski. Enter to win: https://forms.office.com/r/byUv8hKCRW

⭐ Resource of the Day ⭐ For the Global Day of Parents, check out our self-directed workshop on supporting children’s well-being and help them balance the risks and benefits of digital media. Raising Digitally Resilient Kids: https://ow.ly/HrI350Z6bHE

⭐ Resource of the day ⭐ If there's one lesson we would make mandatory for everyone, it would be this one. 👀 Consensus or Conspiracy? (Grades 9-12): https://ow.ly/axFz50Z5yCZ

Do you know an educator helping students navigate today’s media environment with confidence and critical thinking? The MediaSmarts Educator of the Year Award is now accepting nominations. Learn more and nominate someone (or self-nominate) before June 17: https://ow.ly/Mcvl50Z59Mw

Ahead of #WorldNoTobaccoDay, we've updated our free lesson plans for exploring tobacco marketing in the classroom: Selling tobacco (Grades 7-10) - https://ow.ly/ItH450Z38li Mirror image (Grades 5-9) - https://ow.ly/VeLJ50Z38lj Tobacco labels (Grades 6-9) - https://ow.ly/tmKQ50Z38lk

Know a young person who puts digital media literacy into action? Nominate them for MediaSmarts’ inaugural Youth Leader Award! We’re recognizing a Canadian youth making a difference in their classroom, community or online spaces. Learn more: https://ow.ly/XIwW50Z2Gms

Know a Canadian youth or educator thinking outside the box on digital media literacy? Canadian Innovation Week is a great time to recognize them by nominating them for a MediaSmarts' Digital Media Literacy Award! Learn more: https://ow.ly/3cKP50YZ036 #CIW26 Fondation Rideau Hall Foundation

It's a big time for sports! 🏒⚾ As baseball season rolls in, our parent blogger (and her family of mega fans) is reflecting on the major role social media has played in connecting fans to the game. https://mediasmarts.ca/blog/social-media-and-baseball

Social media and baseball

In the past 25 years of becoming more of a fan alongside the superfan I married, I noticed some changes and trends. Especially when it comes to how baseball, the MLB and teams are using social media and engaging with fans.

mediasmarts.ca

In Winnipeg, General Wolfe School students used Google’s reverse-image search engine, as well as credible news outlets, to come to conclusions during Reality Champion. MediaSmarts' Matthew Johnson comments. (via @winnipegfreepress.com) www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2026/0...

Students compete to be ‘Reality Champion’

Middle school competitors deferred to their digital magnifying glass as they tried to determine whether King Charles was, in fact, pictured with a greasy plate of pepperoni pizza last month.

winnipegfreepress.com