The Internet has come a long way since its inception in the 1960s; it has evolved from a single-use technology to a global enterprise. The Internet has revolutionized the way in which we teach, shop, communicate, relax, and obtain information. However, the constant onslaught of digital media has also created a negative ripple effect around the world. Filter bubbles, targeted advertising, mental, physical, and educational problems, as well as e-waste, are on the rise. Without intervention, we will continue down a slippery slope of conformity and naivety governed by those in power.

 

Media literacy education is the key to student success in the 21st century. We need to provide our students with the necessary tools to navigate through a constant bombardment of information, images, and bias. A progressive education must help students interpret information beyond face-value and not be persuaded by the hidden agenda of large companies. As educators, it is our job to help students learn to think critically about the world around them, especially in the digital realm. We must adapt to the fast-paced, ever-changing planet, and learn to harness our ability to decipher and interpret meaning from various media sources. If it is our goal to create well-rounded, free-thinking global citizens, we must first focus our attention on the elephant in the room and learn to harness the effects of technology before technology learns how to further control us.