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GET REAL! Toolkit • Activities Media Literacy Answer Key How media literate are you? 1 The correct answer is C. The term media refers to any type of communication that reaches a wide audience. Media include traditional forms such as TV, radio, and magazines, as well as new media such as social networks and other digital content. 2 The correct answer is C. While advertising is used to inform people about products and services, as well as the products’ benefits and availability, the main purpose is to make money for the company by selling its products to consumers. It’s important to remember that advertisers may not always have the consumers’ best interest at heart because their main goal is to be profitable. 3 4 5 The correct answer is B. While exposure to these images doesn’t directly cause eating disorders, research does show that it can negatively impact both body image and self-esteem, which for some people can lead to an increase in disordered eating and unhealthy exercise behaviors. The correct answer is C. Chances are if a particular ad bothers you, it bothers others as well! Don’t just sit back and take it – there are a number of ways you can talk back to the media creators. Organize a letter writing campaign or use social media sites to speak your mind (who knows, maybe it will even go viral!). The correct answer is A. For the majority of ads you see, the image has been digitally altered to the point that not even the original model looks like the image portrayed. No amount of diet, exercise or beauty products can make someone look this way because it is a digitally-created image and not real life. 6 The correct answer is C. To become media literate is to be able to be both aware of the techniques used to create media images and to analyze and evaluate the underlying meaning of these messages. You can then understand exactly what media are trying to sell, to whom, and how it might affect different consumers. 7 The correct answer is C. While no one is immune to how fashion magazines can impact body image, studies show that those with low self-esteem and those who base their self- worth on social comparisons are particularly vulnerable to these images. 8 The correct answer is C. While you may not realize it, we are all media creators! Every time you send a text or post on Instagram you are creating media. Next time you post something online think about: Is the media you create consistent with your values? Does it promote a healthy body image? Is this a “digital footprint” you can be proud to leave? 9 The correct answer is A. While you may think only young people or females are susceptible to media’s influence, media can impact everyone’s body image given the unrealistic and often-limited portrayals of diverse body shapes and sizes. 10 The correct answer is C. Unfortunately, even with passwords and privacy settings, there is really no way to ensure that what you post online will stay private. Everything you share online becomes part of your “digital footprint” and may be viewable by others at some point despite your best efforts. Keep in mind that the Internet is a public space so if you wouldn’t want your teachers, your boss or your grandmother to see it, think twice about posting it! Get REAL! about Media and Body Image | California State University, Northrdige | National Eating Disorders Association