Critical thinking goes viral with online media literacy program

Truth could be a money-maker for young people across Nunavut and Nunavik who join the third annual Teen Fact-Checking Network, an online educational initiative by Ottawa-based MediaSmarts.

Under the paid program, participants aged 13 to 19 receive training in verifying information that circulates on the internet.

“We think this would be a valuable opportunity for Inuit youth to build digital literacy and fact-checking skills while also exploring and challenging misinformation related to Inuit culture, communities and issues,” said MediaSmarts spokesperson Tricia Grant, in an email.

Teens stand to earn $150 for analyzing one viral claim bouncing around social media. After that, MediaSmarts pays $100 per fact-check.

The nonprofit charitable organization, founded in 1996, introduces youth to critical thinking skills, reverse image searching and other digital strategies before letting them loose to investigate claims on their own feeds, Grant said.

Once a participant confirms the content as true or false, they present their research in videos that are then shared on MediaSmarts’ TikTok, Instagram and YouTube channels.

The hope is these videos will help others understand how to assess the authenticity of the content that pops up on their social media feeds, Grant said.

MediaSmarts is looking to partner with Inuit organizations, schools and community groups in Nunavut and Nunavik, and has already connected with Iqaluit’s Ampere educational hub.

“We’re definitely going to be telling our students to go check this out,” said Kent Driscoll, Ampere’s director of advocacy and strategic initiatives.

The fact-checking project dovetails nicely with Ampere’s weekly film and television production class, he said.

“Inevitably when you’re doing film and television production with youth now, the videos become something online,” he said. “The Teen Fact-Checking Network definitely helps us help our learners better navigate that space.”

Toronto-based United for Literacy, which plans to have math and literacy tutors in 12 of Nunavik’s 14 communities from October till June, is collaborating with MediaSmarts on a national forum in October.

“Literacy leads to critical thinking and if MediaSmarts is offering opportunities for children and youth of all communities, including Nunavik and the North, to be part of initiatives where they can develop their critical thinking skills and improve their digital media literacy, I think it’s always a good thing,” said Mélanie Valcin, CEO of United for Literacy.

Over the past two years, 25 teen fact-checkers involved in the program have scrutinized claims about health, science, the environment, and beauty products, generating more than 7.5 million views across MediaSmarts’ social media channels.

Applications are accepted until Sept. 28 on the MediaSmarts website.