Here are the links to the other parts of The Fair Media Council’s “Saturated but Starving:” Part I – Used by the Media and Part III – Truth Under Siege, Thank you, Jaci Clement for allowing us to share your smart, savvy thoughts on the media known as “The Latest” to those who follow her through The Fair Media Council. We strongly recommend subscribing directly through www.fairmediacouncil.org. and otherwise taking advantage of the valuable – and increasingly critical – resources the FMC makes it their business to provide.
In ways seen and unseen, our kids are struggling. Mentally, emotionally, cognitively—and much of it is tied to their screens
Social media is now one of the biggest threats to youth mental health, with nearly half of teens saying it’s harming their well-being. Parents agree. So do educators. And still, we treat media exposure like a behavioral problem instead of what it really is: a developmental crisis.
Let’s not call this screen time. This is identity shaping in real time, in an environment designed to influence what kids think, how they feel, and what they believe—before they know how to process any of it.
The most vulnerable window? Grades 4 through 6.
That’s when the brain builds the ability to analyze, reflect, and resist. According to research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, and supported by Verywell Mind, these are the years when executive functioning—like critical thinking and deductive reasoning—begins to take root. But instead of strengthening those skills, we’re handing them over to algorithms.
And the algorithm isn’t neutral. It’s engineered to shape belief systems.
In a 2023 analysis, NewsGuard found that within 40 minutes of opening an account, TikTok served false or misleading information on topics like COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and school shootings. And kids aren’t searching for this content—it’s being served to them automatically.
What we should be doing to combat this problem is using news to teach media literacy. Most news is written at a 4th–6th grade reading level, so it’s appropriate for the very students whose brains are beginning to make meaning of the world.
The problem? In the U.S., 54% of adults read below that level. So while news is often dismissed as too advanced for children, the reality is that our education system hasn’t prepared kids—or adults—to engage with even the most basic information.
Let’s get this straight:
Literacy is the ability to read.
Media literacy is the ability to think.
We need both. And we need to start early.
Because once a child is introduced to a screen, they’re introduced to a system that will shape them—unless they learn how to question it. And that questioning will only happen if we teach them that a screen can be either a window on the world, or a weapon of mass destruction. Think about that the next time you hand a child a screen.
Right now, schools across the country are considering phone bans. Critics call it draconian. But here’s the truth: screen-free time is not a punishment. It’s a reset.
Kids need quiet. They need friction. They need boredom. That’s when thinking happens.
What they don’t need is a feedback loop that makes them feel behind, inadequate, or too late to opt out.
We’re not just trying to raise good media consumers. We’re trying to raise independent thinkers who know how to question what they see—and know how to get out of belief systems they didn’t knowingly opt into.
That’s what education is supposed to do.
If we want better media tomorrow, we start by teaching kids how to think today.
– Jaci Clement
CEO & Executive Director
photo by Bob Giglione provided by FMC
Photo of Maurice DuBois provided by The Fair Media Council. Photo Credit: Michele Crowe, CBS News
Announcing FMC’s Folio Awards 2025 Lifetime Achievement Honoree: Maurice DuBois
The Fair Media Council is proud to announce that Maurice DuBois, co-anchor of the CBS Evening News and one of the most trusted names in news, will receive our 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award—our highest honor—at this year’s Folio Awards, held June 12 at the Garden City Hotel.
A Long Island native with nearly four decades in the news industry, DuBois has reported from the world stage to our local streets, shaping how news is delivered with clarity, credibility, and heart.
“Maurice DuBois exemplifies what journalism should be—trusted, thoughtful, and in service to the public,” said Fair Media Council CEO Jaci Clement. “It’s a privilege to welcome him home to Long Island.”
Folio Awards, June 12
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Folio Awards, presented by the Fair Media Council, are the gold standard for the modern media landscape, recognizing news and media that informs, enlightens, and strengthens communities.
Tickets and tables now available. A few advertising opportunities remain!
Reservations must be made in advance. No walk-ins.
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Our work has transformed into one of today’s greatest social responsibilities: Building a trustworthy, credible media landscape and a media literate society. By addressing both sides of the coin — media accountability and media literacy — we move everyone forward, together. We call it media savvy.
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FMC Members also have access to our online Media Guide & Directory, which is designed to be used in conjunction with the Modern Media Publicity Kit.
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Republished with permission from The Fair Media Council, 223 Wall Street, Suite 200, Huntington, NY 11743
