Media Literacy - BrainPop UK
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00:00Click.
00:01Click.
00:02Click.
00:03Click.
00:04Click.
00:32No.
00:33Ah!
00:34Moby!
00:35Have you been going online without your special glasses?
00:50Dear Tim and Moby, I know I can't believe everything I see and read, but how do I know
00:56what to trust?
00:57From Melody.
00:59Yeah, there's a ton of information we need to sort through these days.
01:04Most kids spend more than half their waking hours consuming media.
01:08That's any form of communication that reaches many people at once.
01:11Websites and magazines, games and TV shows, it's all part of the media.
01:17It also includes any advertisement you see or hear.
01:21All this stuff is a constant part of our environment today.
01:24Yes, it is wonderful.
01:28But you have to remember that these messages don't come out of nowhere.
01:32They're each made by someone, and that means they always have a purpose.
01:39These goals are often hidden, and they may not be in your best interest.
01:44So it's a good idea to be skeptical or doubtful.
01:50That doesn't mean that news and social networks aren't fun or useful.
01:53But you have to understand their goals to judge their credibility.
01:57That's how trustworthy you think a message is.
02:00Hmm, a rave review of a blockbuster sequel?
02:05Not so fast.
02:07The people that own the magazine also run the studio that made the movie.
02:13They own the fast food places serving those Hungry Maze meal deals.
02:17And they even have a gaming company to make Hungry Maze apps.
02:21Yeah, connecting those doubts makes you realize all media has a particular point of view.
02:28They speak with a bias, a slant on how they see the world.
02:32Even serious news outlets have biases.
02:35Editors choose which stories to run, and how they're reported.
02:39Even if they're trying their best to avoid bias, personal views will always influence
02:43these stories.
02:45No one can be completely impartial, not even us.
02:49But you don't need special glasses to get to the truth.
02:52You just have to ask some questions.
02:53Like, what's the message of this piece of media?
02:56Who created it?
02:58What biases might they hold?
03:00And what effect do they hope their message will have?
03:03Finding the answers can help decode the media all around us.
03:09Ads are often the easiest to read.
03:11You already know the intended effect, that you buy something.
03:15But advertisers use all kinds of subtle tricks to get you to do that.
03:20They might obscure who's behind the product, or hide the fact that it's an ad at all.
03:24For instance, product placement puts popular brands inside movies and shows.
03:30And traditional ads have dozens of ways to make the product seem more appealing.
03:35First, almost every image is altered or changed.
03:39Pimples are erased, wastes are slimmed, and teeth are whitened.
03:44Backgrounds are changed to look more interesting.
03:47Media images can make it seem like we all look the same way.
03:52But people come in all colors, shapes, and sizes.
03:59Some ads use scientific claims or statistics.
04:02The claims may be true, but there's often more to the story.
04:10Other ads work by connecting products with celebrities or cute mascots.
04:15You know some genes can't make you rich and famous, but the connection works on a subconscious
04:20level.
04:22Next time you're shopping, you'll be more likely to buy that brand.
04:25If you question what you see, you can break these connections.
04:31It's not just advertising.
04:32All media use similar strategies to grab your attention.
04:36Like the stories in your newsfeed.
04:38They use sensationalism, shocking or exaggerated language, to convince you to click.
04:44Social media is flooded with sensationalist stories.
04:47And everything you read, write, and share is traced.
04:51It's called data tracking, and networks use it to send you similar posts.
04:56Following the same kinds of stories all the time can really distort your view of the world.
05:02So it's smart to get news from a variety of sources.
05:05You'll expose yourself to ideas and topics you might otherwise miss.
05:12I know it can feel overwhelming, but you can't hide from the media.
05:15You just have to learn to read the messages, like how we learn to read books.
05:20That's what media literacy is all about.
05:25Well in your case, I guess you can just keep wearing these.
05:30Nooooooo!
05:38Huh.
05:45You