It is evident social media has become an integral part of our lives. Platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok have a huge impact on how we spend our lives relating to others and communicating thoughtfully and responsibly.
The upsides of using social media are very many. However, it poses many potential risks, particularly for young children. Without a doubt, it is important to equip children with social media literacy skills.
The European Business University (EBU) based in Luxembourg, in a joint collaboration with the Uamuzi Foundation and Amnesty International, is rolling out a new course to address concerns surrounding digital media usage.
The course, which targets high school students is known as Social Media Literacy Seminar (SML 100). It offers to assist young people navigate the digital landscape responsibly, ensuring they understand the impact of social media on their mental health and communication.
The President of EBU, Dr James Mulli stated the courses will be offered to students as scholarships, aligning with the institution’s mandate to foster ethical and responsible online behaviour.
He added the first 100 students who attend and complete the course, will only be required to pay Sh100 each to access all learning materials.
“This interactive 4-hour seminar in 2 sessions, equips students with the tools to be informed, responsible and ethical users of social media in today’s digital landscape,” he stated.
Additionally, the mode of delivery will be via virtual lessons. He emphasized the course would equip students with important skills to consume social media safely, responsibly and effectively.
The course covers topics such as media bias, misinformation, privacy concerns, online etiquette, and the impact of social media on mental health and society.
By the end of the course, learners will have the skills to identify credible social media sources, detect misinformation and adopt means to protect their digital privacy and security.
They will also learn about ethical online conduct and examine how algorithms shape the content they encounter while avoiding echo chambers.
The European Business University issues scholarships to learners, thus enabling them access to free, on-demand EBU Certificate short courses. Currently, EBU applications are open for a select number of courses with over 90% scholarship award rates.
“Whether you are looking to advance in business, AI, technology, project management, compliance education or improve your English, EBU has the right course for you,” stated Dr Mulli.
Among the popular courses administered by EBU are Certificate in Business Administration, Hospitality, AI for Leaders, Technology and AI, Project Management, Compliance, English and Cyber Security.
