Media Literacy:
Changing the Filter

How does the media impact mental health and well-being?

Media can be a great source of connection, education, creativity, and support. However, it can also contribute to stress, comparison, anxiety, perfectionism, and confusion.

Online content can influence:

Body image

Self-Esteem

Food and Exercise Beliefs

Mental Health Beliefs

Relationships

Identity

Emotional Well-Being

Expectations of Ourselves & Others

Learning how to recognize the influence of media can help people engage with it in a more balanced, healthy way.

What is media literacy?

Media literacy is the ability to think critically about the media we consume. Rather than accepting information at face value, media literacy helps us pause, ask questions, recognize influence, and make informed decisions about what we believe and engage with.

Every day, we are exposed to hundreds or even thousands of messages through social media, advertisements, news, television, podcasts, influencers, and online communities. Many of these messages can shape how we think, feel, and behave, often without us realizing it.

Across different forms of media, we may encounter messages that are:

Presented as facts when they are actually opinions
Designed to persuade, sell products, or influence behaviour
Missing important context or alternative perspectives

Unrealistic or heavily edited
Emotionally charged
Misleading or inaccurate
Extreme or sensationalized

Why is media literacy important?

Media is often created with a purpose, whether to inform, entertain, persuade, promote a product, influence opinions, or encourage us to take a particular action. While much of the media we encounter can be valuable and informative, not all content is accurate, balanced, or presented with full context.

In digital spaces, algorithms can shape our experiences by recommending content based on what we engage with, increasing exposure to certain messages and points of view.

How can media literacy support eating disorder recovery?

Recovery does not happen in isolation. Many people recovering from an eating disorder continue to encounter media that promotes unrealistic appearance standards, dieting, “wellness” trends, excessive exercise, food rules, or harmful messages disguised as health advice.

Media literacy can support recovery by helping individuals: