What’s New & Noteworthy at Media Power Youth
Thank You, 2024-2025 Youth Media Squad!
Throughout the 2024-2025 term, our Youth Advisory Board members engaged in valuable conversations about current trends in media and technology. Student slang, misinformation, accountability, and mental health are only some of the many topics our Youth Media Squad explored this year to help create effective resources and materials for Media Power Youth programs. KEEP READING
How to Avoid Being the Internet’s Punchline This April Fools’ Day
by Shreya Rajesh, Media Power Youth Student Volunteer, Academy for Science and Design
Congratulations! You have officially entered the most chaotic day on the internet. April Fools’ used to be about harmless fun: your sibling telling you your shoelace is untied (it’s not), or your friend swapping the sugar for salt (disgusting, but respectable). But now? Now we have AI-generated lies, deep fake videos, and corporations dropping fake announcements for products that don’t exist. Remember when your sibling would set up a bucket of water above the door just to watch you get soaked? The internet’s basically doing that now, but with misinformation.
If you want to make it through April 1st without falling for the jokes, follow this highly comprehensive guide to avoiding digital deception.
Teens React: Social Media Misinformation
The media landscape of today’s world is constantly changing, and it can be challenging to keep up with it all. Social media content spreads quickly through peer-to-peer sharing and reposting, which means inaccurate information may not be caught until after it goes viral and reaches a large audience.
Some social media platforms are currently changing the way they moderate posts. For example, Meta has announced that they are canceling their contracts with third-party fact-checking services, and switching to a new “Community Notes” feature where users are responsible for assessing the information they see for truthfulness and flagging inaccuracies. KEEP READING
Seeking High School Students for 2025-26 Advisory Board
Media Power Youth is a youth-development organization that inspires young people to engage with media in thoughtful and creative ways that support their physical and mental well-being. We offer rich learning experiences on media and technology that help students, teachers, and communities build media literacy skills and use media responsibly to advocate for the causes and people that matter most. Through our youth advisory board, the Youth Media Squad, we partner with teens to create new youth programs that address the current issues facing young people. Members also have opportunities to build new media creation and advocacy skills. We are now accepting applications through April 14th, 2025. KEEP READING
Valentine’s Day: A Digital Love Story (But Like… In Real Life Too)
by Shreya Rajesh, Media Power Youth Student Volunteer, Academy for Science and Design
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples anymore. Teens have officially redefined it as an opportunity to show love and appreciation for friends, family, and—let’s be honest—yourself. Thanks to social media, we can now shout out our besties and crushes with a double-tap. But there’s more to it than just emojis and heart filters. Technology has opened up a new world of creative ways to show your love, and it’s not all just for your Instagram. KEEP READING
New Year, New Media Habits: 2025 Resolutions
By Shreya Rajesh, Media Power Youth Student Volunteer, Academy for Science and Design
Let’s be real: our screens are everywhere. We use them for work, fun, socializing, and sometimes even as an escape. But as the new year begins, it’s time to rethink how much power we give our screens. Whether you’re scrolling through TikTok, answering work emails, or binge-watching your favorite shows, it’s easy to get lost in the digital world.
This year, let’s take control of our media habits—because who wants to start 2025 feeling like the screen is running the show? Here are some resolution suggestions that will help you keep your screen time healthy, balanced, and purposeful—so you can live your life both online and offline. KEEP READING
Spark Connections Anytime with Our Family Conversation Starters
We live in a world where technology is all around us—like our computers for work, our phones for fun, and even our microwaves for making quick meals. It’s incredible, but it can also mean that meaningful face-to-face conversations get lost in the shuffle.
Whether it’s a cozy family dinner, a quiet Sunday afternoon, or even a spontaneous game night, our Family Conversation Starters are here to bring back the joy of real, human connection.
MPY’s First Youth Film Festival
Media Power Youth held our first ever Youth Film Festival on August 17th celebrating the artistic works and visions of young filmmakers. Eight unique short films captivated families and community members throughout a highly-anticipated morning of cinema.
6 Tips for the Transition Back to School
By Avery Bondra, Registered Behavior Technician and MPY Summer Educator
The transition back to school after summer time can be difficult for children and parents alike. Taking small steps to prepare for the adjustment can ease you and your child’s mind, and take some of the pressure off of the first few weeks of school. The following are 6 tips to help your family have a smooth transition back to school!
Summer Filmmaking Camps 2024
For the third year in a row, our summer filmmaking camps were an immense success! Filmmakers aged 10-14 explored a wide range of topics from protecting wildlife and ecosystems, to how technology affects the well-being of our communities. We discovered how to use technology in healthy ways while also having fun!