Start by mapping the media landscape together. Ask your teen: 'What media do you consume daily?' Make a list: social media (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat), news sites, YouTube videos, podcasts, TV shows, streaming services, video games, ads. Discuss that each type of media serves different purposes—some inform, some entertain, some persuade, some sell. Explain that not all media is created equal: a peer-reviewed news article has gone through fact-checking; a random blog post hasn't. A documentary is researched; a TikTok video might be someone's opinion without evidence. Introduce the concept of media literacy: the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media thoughtfully. In the age of misinformation and algorithms, this skill is as important as reading and math.

Now dive into spotting problems in media. Choose 3-5 examples: a biased news article, a misleading social media post, a doctored photo, a clickbait headline, or a fake news story. Analyze each one together. Ask: 'What's the claim here? Does the headline match the content? Are there sources cited? Does the photo look edited? What's the emotional tone—is it trying to make you angry or scared?' Discuss bias: all media has some bias based on who creates it, but extreme bias or hidden bias is a red flag. Explain misinformation (false info spread unintentionally) versus disinformation (false info spread on purpose to deceive). Show how to reverse-image search a photo, check the date on an article, and look up the credibility of a source. Practice skepticism: 'Just because it's online doesn't make it true.'

Now put fact-checking into practice. Choose 5 claims your teen encounters in their media diet (news headlines, social media posts, YouTube video claims, product ads). Fact-check each one together. Step 1: Identify the claim clearly. Step 2: Search for the original source (who first made this claim?). Step 3: Check if reputable sources confirm or debunk it (look for expert opinions, scientific studies, mainstream news verification). Step 4: Check the date (is this old news being recycled?). Step 5: Evaluate the source's credibility (do they have expertise? A track record of accuracy?). Use fact-checking websites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, PolitiFact, or just Google the claim plus 'fact check.' Discuss how to tell if a fact-checker is itself reliable. Celebrate when you verify something is true, and when you debunk something false—both are wins for critical thinking.

Now shift to persuasion. Discuss how ads, influencers, and content creators use techniques to shape your opinions and behavior. Watch 3-5 ads or influencer videos together and identify tactics: emotional appeals (making you feel happy, scared, or inadequate), celebrity endorsements (trust by association), bandwagon effect (everyone's doing it), scarcity (limited time offer!), authority (doctors recommend...), and social proof (5-star reviews). Discuss how algorithms curate content to keep you engaged (autoplay, endless scroll, personalized recommendations). Talk about influencer marketing: when someone on Instagram promotes a product, they're often paid—it's an ad, not a genuine recommendation. Analyze how content is designed to trigger emotions and actions. Understanding these tactics makes you less susceptible to manipulation.

Wrap up by creating family media literacy guidelines together. Discuss rules like: verify before sharing, check sources before believing, question emotional or sensational content, recognize persuasive tactics, diversify your media diet (don't just consume one viewpoint), take breaks from social media to avoid algorithm bubbles, and model good media habits for each other. Write these down and post them somewhere visible. Commit to practicing media literacy as a family: call out fake news when you see it, discuss ads you encounter, fact-check claims before sharing them. Celebrate that your family is now equipped to navigate the media landscape critically and thoughtfully. Media literacy is a lifelong skill that protects you from misinformation, manipulation, and poor decisions based on bad information.