You’ll come across varying definitions of media literacy online, some complex, some more straightforward. The Message defines media literacy as:
1. The skillset and mindset to critically analyze, understand, and create media in a responsible way.
2. At its heart, we also view it as an art of curiosity—one that, when practiced, can lead to personal empowerment and meaningful change.
Not quite. Media literacy is the umbrella skillset that encompasses disciplines like digital literacy, news literacy, information literacy, and social media literacy. These are all specific ways media literacy shows up, depending on the content or platform.
The benefits of media literacy education cut across every facet of life. We need media literacy because we live in a world where messages are constant, persuasive, and not always healthy, or truthful. For youth, media literacy builds critical thinking, confidence, and the ability to navigate identity in a digital world. For adults, it helps challenge biases, spot misinformation, and engage with media more intentionally. At the societal level, media literacy strengthens democracy by promoting informed decision-making, empathy across differences, and resistance to manipulation. Think of it as an operating system that upskills humanity for digital life. Below are just a few of the ways negative media messages and the misuse of technology are impacting youth.
Adolescents spend up to 8 hours per day with digital devices — listening to music, using social media, playing video games, watching TV and more. Excessive media screen time has been linked to both physical and psycho-emotional consequences among youth, from obesity to suicide. Researchers have also found that too much screen time can have a neurological effect on the adolescent brain similar to cocaine addiction.
The CDC reported teens who spent more time on screens each day were more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression in the past two weeks, aligning with trends seen in earlier studies. 1 in 5 teens said social media hurt their mental heal health or grades in a Pew Research survey. Other studies suggest an association between the often highly idealized brand images conveyed in media and mental health disorders in young girls, from depression to body dysmorphia.
Studies show that teens often struggle to identify misinformation online. Over 80% of middle schoolers couldn’t tell real news from ads, and nearly half of teens failed to recognize fake health information. More than half also believed in multiple conspiracy theories, revealing a troubling vulnerability. Critical thinking and media literacy training have been shown to help reduce this susceptibility.
Data from Dove’s Real State of Beauty report (2024) show how youth today are facing intense pressure around beauty, and it starts early. Nearly half of girls aged 10–13 believe “there’s no excuse not to be beautiful” with all the tools available to them. One in three girls would give up good grades, and 1 in 5 would trade their dream job to achieve their ideal look. Two-thirds of girls say it makes them feel pressured to look a certain way, and 38% of women say they’ve changed their appearance because of what they see online.
The often unrealistic and inaccurate depictions of sex in media can be linked to sexual health consequences among young people. Research shows that greater exposure to sexual content is linked to earlier or increased sexual activity within a year. Other studies suggest that exposure to music with lyrics endorsing sexual or gendered violence can influence youths’ attitudes—reducing respect for women and increasing acceptance of sexual aggression.
In a 2025 study from Commons Sense Media 61% of surveyed parents think children today are doing worse than children 20 years ago with respect to the values and morals they are taught. Studies show social media lowers the cost of moral expression and spreads it quickly, intensifying both divisive behaviors like outrage and group conflict, as well as positive ones like support, generosity, and activism.
Teens send and receive an average of 167 text messages per day and spend less than 6 minutes on their studies before being distracted with texting or social media. Compulsive texting has also been found to have a negative impact on teenagers’ grades, school bonding, and other dysfunctions.
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