As social media is now the go-to source of information for young audiences, media experts adapt and provide engaging, age-appropriate news alternatives
CBC first launched its Kids News digital platform in 2018 to help Canadian children stay informed while developing their media literacy skills. However, when the pandemic hit in 2020, the platform became increasingly relevant to younger audiences due to the reliable, age-appropriate health information it provided them. Even now, CBC Kids News remains a beacon for young people navigating heavy news cycles and waves of misinformation and disinformation.
Having worked on interactive elements for Kids News—creating anything from polls and quizzes to sliders and games—Krishen Persad and his team understand that young people tend to be visual learners. That means they must get creative when explaining more complex or mature concepts. “Let’s say we’re talking about tariffs, for example. We might use a visual of two ships,” says Persad, researcher, fact checker, and associate producer at CBC Kids News. “The USA is one ship, Canada is another ship, and they’re trading flows back and forth, or something like that. We try to come up with interesting but also informative and apt ways of visualizing the information we’re giving them.”
For more upsetting stories, the Kids News team takes extra steps to give their stories a reassuring yet authoritative voice. This includes consulting an advisory panel of experts, providing content warnings, or creating explainer videos on why it’s normal to feel sad or stressed—and what to do about it. “We’re certainly very mindful of the content we publish, we try not to get too graphic with our visuals or language,” says Persad. “But, we arm kids with the information that is real and out there, no matter how difficult it is.”
‘We’re Their Window to the World’
Kim Wilson, co-founder of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Children’s Media Lab, and director and co-founder of OneFish TwoFish Consulting, agrees that incorporating expert voices is crucial, but also believes fostering media literacy starts with meaningful discussions. “Where we help kids is by contextualizing what they read or see and talking to them about it,” she says. “That’s the role of teachers, parents, and adults all around—talking to kids so they start thinking about things differently.”
A November 2023 study by Kaiser & Partners Inc. found that about a quarter of their Gen Z respondents were more likely to trust news broadly shared across social media channels. While 55 percent of Canadians of all ages still view established news media companies as the most reliable source of information, Gen Z and Millennials actively seek out news on social media rather than traditional news platforms. This erosion of trust in the media can be traced back to multiple factors, including the passing of Canada’s Online News Act, Bill C-18, and Meta’s ban on media outlets.
Younger generations, especially Gen Alpha, have a more personal reason for falling victim to endless scrolling. “Sadly, they went through this pandemic where they had more screen time and less human interaction,” says Wilson. “Parents allowed their kids to watch more content because that was the only way to have social interactions.”
“There’s nothing that influences young children more than media—we’re their window to the world, so you have to think about how impactful it is, and then make the appropriate programs for that specific age,” says Wilson. A veteran of children’s media, Wilson has worked in public television for over 25 years, leading the kids’ departments at TVO and CBC, and has seen the industry transform dramatically.
According to Wilson, these changes have been mostly positive, as there is now more emphasis on inclusivity, mental health awareness, and the promotion of empathy. Yet, despite these strides, social media and video-sharing platforms continue to dominate young audiences’ news consumption. “The truth of the matter is that the number-one place that all kids watch content is YouTube,” she continues, “and my concern is that the content is often made by people who aren’t professionals.”
“I would say just try to meet kids where they are,” says Persad. “If we know that a lot of kids are spending their time on TikTok and Roblox, be there. Right now, in terms of social media, all of our focus is on YouTube and YouTube Shorts because of the news ban.”
Looking ahead, both Wilson and Persad say that as young audiences grow up in an increasingly digital world, striking a balance between keeping them informed and protecting their well-being should remain at the core of media companies’ editorial decision-making. Ensuring young people have access to accurate, developmentally appropriate news is just one piece of the puzzle—but helping them process and critically engage with that information is just as essential.
