There’s rarely a moment that we’re not online in some way. 

It might be scrolling on the phone while having lunch, streaming radio while hanging the washing, or checking the group chat while queuing at the supermarket checkout. It’s a basic, everyday part of life. 

Making sure your family is switched on when it comes to their online media literacy skills and habits is more important than ever.

Media literacy covers many of the skills, knowledge and behaviours that we need to navigate the online world.  

It can help us to: 

• access and critically evaluate online content and spaces 
• protect data and personal information 
• participate positively and responsibly 
• identify and respond to negative content and behaviour

Developing your skills and knowledge can help improve your family’s everyday life.

Having good media literacy can help your family: 

• know what to trust 
• protect your privacy 
• save money and time 
• improve your health and wellbeing 
• learn and create opportunities
•  have your say 

It may sound like a lot. But improving media literacy can be done in small, simple steps.

By picking up new digital habits, and understanding why these habits matter, everyone can improve your media literacy. If you maintain these habits, they can become instinctive, so you don’t need to think about them. 

Across five focus areas, we’ll give you some ideas about where you and your family can start.. 

Content – and how to be critical of what you see and hear 

Data – and how to protect your privacy online

Environments – and how to be wary of the places you go online 

Consequences – and how to understand the impacts of your actions online 

How to participate positively