Exploring children’s ability to employ media and information literacy assessments: Insights from the podcast kids talk media.

Abstract

This article reflects on my professional practice in producing and hosting the podcast series Kids Talk Media (https://kidstalkmedia.net/). The podcast explores children’s understanding of the influence of media on their lives using a unique interpersonal approach. During each podcast, two best friends discuss these issues with an adult host, myself. The host guides the discussion, but the topics, insights, concerns, and transgressions shared are driven by the children. More than 20 episodes have been produced with the release of new episodes ongoing. A few of the children interviewed convey a clear understanding of digital media and media and information literacy (MIL), and their comments demonstrate that they bring a critical lens to their consumption of media, including social media, video games, and even personal digital assistants such as Alexa. Other interviewees consume media without understanding, adult guidance, and concern for privacy or mental health. This article introduces readers to specific episodes and uses the children’s utterances to demonstrate how MIL is helping them navigate their digital world, or how its omission is enabling them to blindly engage with media that affects their self-image, friendships, education, and future. This chapter will help teachers, practitioners, and other individuals developing MIL interventions for children to thoughtfully consider the extent of children’s understanding of MIL and how to best empower their positive use of media.