Cell phone restrictions and bans in schools is a hot topic as we all think about the role these devices play in our kids and teens’ day-to-day lives. Regardless of the decisions that districts or schools make about allowing the use of these devices during the school day, we cannot lose sight of the importance of media literacy education. 

According to research from the Pew Research Center, 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, and about six-in-ten say they use TikTok, Snapchat or Instagram. The fact is that whether it’s during or after the school day, young people are engaging with media at a high volume and they need to be taught the skills to become critical thinkers and navigate all types of media in a safe and healthy way. 

This fall, Media Literacy Now will release a set of recommendations for states, districts, and schools to better integrate media literacy education in K-12 schools. These recommendations are informed by the recent research and interviews conducted during our project with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Be sure to sign up to receive it when released.

As cell phone restriction legislation and school policies are being crafted and fine-tuned before the beginning of the school year, Media Literacy Now encourages the inclusion of media literacy education. Including media literacy education can take many forms and while we work towards the ideal of having media literacy integrated into every subject area at every grade level, we want to highlight the following resources for teachers, schools, parents, policymakers, and advocates:

Cell Phones & Social Media in Schools: A Toolkit for School Leaders & Communities — This toolkit released by the Massachusetts Attorney General Office supports school districts in developing and implementing cell phone policies, gaining buy-in from stakeholders, and fostering communities that collectively promote the well-being of children and youth. It includes a Model Cell Phone Policy for schools, a Guide for Developing Community Norms and Digital Media Literacy topics and strategies for teaching students responsible use of technology and digital media. **Includes a list of resources for teaching media literacy in schools.**

Digital Wellness Resource Database — A searchable database of resources, lesson plans, videos, and activities for K-12 health teachers. Curriculum topics include digital citizenship and online safety, digital wellness — including the potential physical and mental health impact of media use — education and tools for self-regulation, and media literacy skills applied to health information for informed health decision-making. Many of these resources are applicable to parents and caregivers, too!

Spotlight on a California School That Created Standards for Media Literacy in Health and Wellness Education — Read how one school is taking a comprehensive approach to incorporating media literacy and digital wellness concepts into their health and wellness curriculum. 

Advocacy Toolkit for Parents & Individuals — A guide for individuals looking to start conversations about media literacy education with teachers, school leaders, and parents. This toolkit outlines the need for media literacy education and provides ideas, activities, and resources to help you get started. It is not an exhaustive list but rather suggestions of things that have worked for us and others connected to Media Literacy Now that we feel would be easy to replicate.