Students need digital literacy

In the 1800s, patent medicine was all the rage. Salesmen used to push toxic “miracle cures” — made of mostly alcohol and narcotics — through colorful advertisements and trade cards. There’s a wonderful collection of these ads in the Rauner Special Collections Library in Hanover if your curiosity is piqued.

While patent medicines may seem like a fad of the past, today’s digital world is driven by similar dynamics. From influencers selling nutritional supplements to health guru blogs, the internet is awash with dangerous and expensive medical lies. As one study found, a third of the most popular cancer-related social media articles contain harmful information suggesting patients delay treatment, incur unnecessary costs, or experiment with unproven therapies.

At the same time, the internet is also a powerful source of medical knowledge. When we have questions about our health, the search bar is usually the first place we go. How do we navigate this digital paradox? Trusting platforms like Facebook and TikTok to fact-check themselves is naive, and likely ineffective. Instead, the answer should be to educate. By teaching students how to spot the red flags of misleading information in an age of online influencers and AI-generated content, we can work toward a safer and healthier community.

New Hampshire has taken steps in this direction by establishing a K-12 digital literacy program. These kinds of initiatives teach strategies such as the SIFT method that help students verify dubious information online — health-related or otherwise. However, despite massively expanding access to technology in schools, Vermont has not made corresponding investments in digital media literacy education. This is an opportunity for growth. Education is a difficult political subject right now in Vermont, but in all the discussions, legislators should not overlook opportunities to advance state-level digital media literacy guidelines and ensure that the next generation is effectively prepared to navigate the digital age.

Alex Joel

Hanover

Constitution, not kings

Some people claim that America is more divided than it’s ever been. And, yes, Americans do disagree about many important things. But we overwhelmingly agree that the Constitution is the foundational law of our land and must be followed by everyone, including the president. At his inauguration, our president took an oath vowing to “Faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will do the best of my ability, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Recently, he expressed doubt about whether he needed to uphold the Constitution. It’s increasingly clear that he thinks he should be able to do whatever he wants to do, like a king.

And, like a king, he’s scheduled a huge military parade in Washington D.C for Flag Day — and his birthday — on June 14. While he makes drastic funding cuts that harm everyday Americans, including the elderly, the disadvantaged and children, he arranges for a military parade to celebrate his birthday at a cost estimated at tens of millions of dollars. That’s why pro-democracy organizations are planning “No Kings Day” events nationwide on that same day, June 14. We need our voices heard: America is a democracy, not a monarchy! No kings!

Emmy Hausman

South Ryegate, Vt.