Why Students Need to Explore Controversial Media Texts

Teaching controversial media texts isn’t risky—it’s responsible. It’s how we equip students to think critically, ethically, and independently in the world they already live in.

Today’s students are growing up in a world where media—especially social and digital media—shapes their views, identities, and understanding of current events. If we want them to be media literate, we can’t shield them from controversial or complex content. Instead, we need to model how to engage with it critically and responsibly. And there’s strong academic backing for this approach.

Why Students Need to Explore Controversial Media Texts And How We Teach Them to Do It Safely and Critically

Contemporary media pedagogy increasingly moves away from teacher-as-expert and toward the idea of modelling—teachers showing, not just telling. As Talib (2018) argues, educators should act as curators and co-creators of meaning, using real-world social media content to demonstrate critical analysis in action. By applying tools like framing theory, teachers can help students unpack how narratives are constructed and how power operates in digital discourse.

McDougall & Potter (2015) take this further with their idea of “porous expertise.” Instead of always leading from the front, educators work alongside students—co-learning, experimenting, remixing media, and making space for student voice and creativity. This encourages ownership and deepens learning.

Walden (2021) makes the case that to truly teach digital literacy, we need to actively use platforms like TikTok and Instagram in the classroom. It’s not enough to talk about media—we need to engage with it to show how meaning is shaped by design, algorithms, and context.

Likewise, Gómez-Galán (2018) pushes for critical engagement with the structures behind media—things like algorithms, data surveillance, and the ethics of online production. These are essential skills for navigating today’s digital landscape. And as highlighted in Screenworks (2020), making the creative process visible—from idea to edit—helps students learn “through doing,” mirroring real-world practices in media industries.

In short, teaching controversial media texts isn’t risky—it’s responsible. It’s how we equip students to think critically, ethically, and independently in the world they already live in. And with the right pedagogical approach, we can do it in a way that’s safe, rigorous, and empowering

Read More on Modelling Media Pedagogy in the Classroom