Governor Hochul Releases New York’s First Media Literacy Toolkit for Educators

Governor Hochul Releases New York's First Media Literacy Toolkit for Educators

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the release of New York's first 'Media Literacy' toolkit for educators. Following a surge in online hate speech in November 2023 and after it was revealed that the perpetrator of the Tops mass shooting in Buffalo was radicalized online, Governor Hochul directed the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to work with experts to develop and distribute an ideologically neutral product which gives teachers resources to develop students' ability to analyze, evaluate and assess all forms of media, including information delivered through social media.

"Whether it's cell phones and social media or the scourge of misinformation teens encounter each day, I'm taking action to protect young people online and give them the tools to succeed," Governor Hochul said. "New York's first Media Literacy toolkit is about giving our kids the tools to diligently interact with the information landscape and be responsible actors in the digital age.

The toolkit is the first in a series of resources on media literacy the Division intends to produce and serves as a primer for educators throughout New York looking to introduce their students to these concepts. The toolkit is organized into five sections:

• Overview of the 21st century media landscape
• Introduction to media literacy
• Key questions for analyzing, evaluating and using media
• Importance of media literacy
• Educator tools/resources

Through a partnership with the New York State Education Department, the toolkit is being distributed to all schools and districts and will be posted online on the Department's website. The State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the New York State Education Department will work closely with BOCES across New York to provide professional learning opportunities for educators on how to use these resources to support student media and digital literacy.

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "Today's students are getting nearly all of their information online without filters or guardrails to help them navigate what is fact and what is fiction. This toolkit will serve as a resource for New York's educators as they work to combat the challenges of mis/dis/mal-information online and its effect on children."

New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, "In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, equipping our students with the critical thinking skills to navigate a sea of information is more important than ever. Working with our partners at the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, we have developed and distributed a toolkit that provides educators with valuable resources to empower students to become discerning consumers of information, fostering a generation that can evaluate sources, identify misinformation, disinformation, mal-information and ultimately become informed and responsible citizens."

As a society, Americans, especially young people, are spending more time interacting with media, particularly online as the advent of the Internet and smartphones have made media more accessible than ever. In fact, statistics show that American teens are spending upwards of a third of their day online. This has led to consumers being bombarded with overwhelming amounts of information, often with blurred lines between fact, fiction, and opinion. Scholars refer to this phenomenon as "information disorder," a term that encompasses the various categories of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation (MDM) that pollute our media landscape.

Examples of MDM include conspiracy theories, propaganda, and hyper-partisan content. Modern technology and the proliferation of social media has not only made MDM more potent, but more difficult to identify. On a global scale, we are witnessing the increased weaponization of information, which has major implications for American democracy.

New York State has witnessed the dangers of MDM firsthand. May 2024 marked two years since the Buffalo shooting, in which 10 individuals were killed in a racially motivated act of domestic terrorism. The perpetrator had reportedly engaged with copious amounts of MDM prior to the attack, namely "The Great Replacement Theory,"a conspiracy theory common among white supremacists. Social media and other online platforms are increasingly being used to radicalize individuals - particularly young people - to violent extremism, as they enable greater visibility of conspiracy theories, hate speech and other extremist rhetoric.

In addition to its capacity to mobilize individuals to deadly violence, MDM can also cause confusion, waste resources and risk lives in times of disaster. For example, in the aftermath of the 2023 Maui Wildfires, posts circulated on social media discouraging residents from accepting disaster assistance, falsely claiming FEMA could seize control of their property.

Finally, MDM presents a grave threat to the health of American democracy. At a national scale, we are witnessing a significant decline in trust in formerly respected sources of factual information, and much of the democratic process relies on the validity of facts and data. Should the truth lose its value, it may cause the continued deterioration of healthy civil discourse, heightened political polarization and erosion of faith in civic institutions.

The release of this toolkit further builds on Governor Hochul's leadership on youth mental health and wellbeing, which has included unveiling a plan to restrict smartphone use in schools statewide and ensure distraction-free learning after a statewide listening tour; signing a first-in-the-nation law to combat addictive social media feeds; expanding school-based mental health clinics and other resources; and launching the "Get Offline, Get Outside" campaign to encourage kids and families to put down their phone, take a break from social media and enjoy outdoor activities this summer.

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, "Thank you Governor Hochul for taking action to address the need for media literacy for our youth. We are all being bombarded with information from numerous sources on various platforms and as our screen time increases, so does information overload. While access to information and the means to connect with one another can be positive, it is crucial we teach young people how to identify mis/dis/mal-information. The resources in the Media Literacy toolkit will help our students to think independently and will address the mental health challenges that result from information overload. As we become increasingly dependent on online platforms for school, work and social interaction, we must ensure our students are able to recognize valid information."

New York City Council Member Rita Joseph said, "As an educator and lifelong advocate for our students, I wholeheartedly support Governor Hochul's announcement of New York's first Media Literacy toolkit. In an age where misinformation and online hate speech can spread rapidly, equipping our young people with the tools to critically evaluate media and information is more important than ever. This initiative empowers educators to guide students in navigating the digital world responsibly, fostering informed, thoughtful, and resilient citizens. I am proud to see New York leading the way in promoting media literacy and safeguarding the future of our democracy."

Contact the Governor's Office