CATCA 2023

Being present online is inevitable for youth and adults these days and getting familiar with the beauty and the risk of social media is a life skill. As intermediaries —whether you’re a teacher, education assistant, support worker, or parent/guardian— you may think about what youth are looking at and experiencing online.Social Stride is an initiative that was founded in 2020 following the rise of social media activism and the spread of (mis)information on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Their vision is to create a healthier online environment by using social media to address hate and discrimination through education, countering misinformation, and amplifying the voices of victims.In this session, participants will develop an in-depth understanding of digital literacy including the different social media platforms, the effects of dis/misinformation and hate online, as well as the importance of having a social media presence. The aim is to provide participants with strategies they can use to support the youth they interact with as well as recognize when youth are experiencing online hate or being subjected to dis/misinformation. Participants may even find themselves learning skills they can use themselves. The session will also discuss response and reporting mechanisms available in Alberta.

The Department of Canadian Heritage (Government of Canada) has provided funding to support this effort through the Youth Take Charge program and this initiative is also supported by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, the Alberta Hate Crimes Committee and REACH Edmonton.