Digital Media Literacy is the new sex ed and our kids can't wait

Our kids are growing up inside an invisible system designed to exploit their curiosity, attention, and even their identities. That system is powered by algorithms, profit-driven formulas that decide what they see, who they follow, and how they feel. And the truth is, most children (and adults) don’t even realize it’s happening.

The digital world isn’t something we’re preparing kids for in the future. It’s where they already live. Whether it’s YouTube recommendations, TikTok for you pages, or gaming chat rooms, algorithms are shaping their experiences, values, and behavior in real time. Yet, our educational system still acts like media literacy is optional. It’s not. It’s urgent.

According to Common Sense Media, teens now spend an average of nearly 9 hours a day on screens, not counting schoolwork. Nearly half of them report being online almost constantly. The platforms they use are not neutral. They are designed to keep them engaged, outraged, and addicted and often at the expense of their mental health, safety, and self-esteem.

Too often, we respond with digital abstinence: just delete the app, turn off the phone, or wait until they’re older. But this does nothing to prepare young people for the realities of an online world that never turns off. It’s like teaching kids to avoid sex instead of teaching them about consent, health, and self-respect. Fear-based avoidance is not protection. It’s neglect.

What children need is digital empowerment. They need to understand how and why content is being shown to them, how algorithms learn their behavior and emotions, and how to spot manipulation in ads, influencers, and viral content. They need tools to ask: Who made this? What’s their goal? Why am I seeing it now?

This is why ScholarsPlus exists.

ScholarsPlus is a digital media literacy program that teaches kids to decode the systems behind the screen. We help students from elementary through high school to understand algorithms, data privacy, misinformation, and the psychological tricks embedded in their feeds. We don’t ask them to unplug. We equip them to plug in with awareness, confidence, and power.

In the age of AI and algorithmic control, teaching digital literacy isn’t optional. It’s protection. It’s past time we gave our kids the tools they need to protect themselves.