Media literacy is the ability
to access, analyze, and evaluate messages from a variety of media forms. It allows people to interact with different media
in constructive and thoughtful ways, using and developing their critical thinking skills. It involves the continued questioning
of the messages we all receive every day, sometimes in very subtle but still powerful ways. With the ever-growing nature of
information and the endless avenues of receiving this information, the way in which people process and interpret these
messages has become increasingly important. Children and teenagers alike are exposed to a variety of media much more vast
than that of their parents' generation. In the Information Age in which we live it is virtually impossible to ignore
or avoid everyday media. But we can use media to expand our understanding of the world in a positive way. Media literacy promotes
learning how to interpret the constant barrage of messages, how to decide which messages are valuable, and how to deal with
the potentially negative effects of media.
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