The Program

The Program

Understanding the Algorithm
Behind Your Screen

Understanding the Algorithm
Behind Your Screen

Education for the
attention economy

Attention Literacy is a ready-to-teach digital literacy program that helps students understand how social media algorithms shape what they see, how their own behavior trains those systems, and how to engage online more intentionally.

Attention Literacy is a ready-to-teach digital literacy program that helps students understand how social media algorithms shape what they see, how their own behavior trains those systems, and how to engage online more intentionally.

45–60 Minute Lesson

Ready-to-Teach

ISTE-Aligned

3 Extension Activities

WHY IT MATTERS

WHY IT MATTERS

Students use algorithms every day. Few understand how they work.

Every pause, scroll, like, comment, and repeat view can influence what a platform learns about a user and what it recommends next.

Attention Literacy gives students a framework for understanding that process so they can recognize how their digital environment is being shaped and make more intentional choices within it.

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

From passive scrolling to
informed decision-making.

01-04

01-04

01-04

01-04

01

Understand the Algorithm

Learn how engagement signals influence personalized recommendations.

01

Understand the Algorithm

Learn how engagement signals influence personalized recommendations.

02

Recognize Feed Patterns

Connect online behavior with the content that repeatedly appears.

02

Recognize Feed Patterns

Connect online behavior with the content that repeatedly appears.

03

Identify Content Spirals

Recognize when repeated engagement creates increasingly narrow or reinforcing feeds.

03

Identify Content Spirals

Recognize when repeated engagement creates increasingly narrow or reinforcing feeds.

04

Make Intentional Choices

Learn concrete ways to influence their digital environment and create a personal Digital Intentions Commitment.

04

Make Intentional Choices

Learn concrete ways to influence their digital environment and create a personal Digital Intentions Commitment.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Everything educators need. Ready to teach.

Structured Core Lesson

Attention Literacy gives students a framework for understanding that process so they can recognize how their digital environment is being shaped and make more intentional choices within it.

Educator Materials

Ready-to-use presentation materials and facilitator guidance designed so educators can confidently deliver the program without specialized technology expertise.

Student Learning Materials

Interactive exercises and reflection tools that help students apply the concepts to their own digital experiences.

Optional Extension Activities

Additional classroom experiences that reinforce core concepts through observation, experimentation, reflection, and collaborative problem-solving.

Extend the learning

Extend the learning

Built to go beyond awareness.

Optional extension activities allow students to apply what they learn through real-world observation, behavior change, critical reflection, and collaborative design exercises.

These activities are designed to help students see the relationship between their online behavior, platform recommendations, and digital wellbeing without requiring schools to build additional curriculum from scratch.

Built for schools

Built for schools

Easy to implement. Built around real education standards.

Attention Literacy fits naturally into advisory, health and wellness, digital citizenship, technology education, and homeroom programming. Educators receive the materials and guidance needed to facilitate the program without specialized expertise.

ISTE 1.1 — Empowered Learner

ISTE 1.2 — Digital Citizen

Reviewed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

"Snapchat's platform safety team is encouraged by the Attention Literacy curriculum and its focus on empowering young people to become active, informed participants in their digital lives. By helping students better understand the platforms they use, manage their time and attention, and exercise greater agency online, the program provides a strong foundation for digital literacy and supports safer, healthier online engagement."

"Snapchat's platform safety team is encouraged by the Attention Literacy curriculum and its focus on empowering young people to become active, informed participants in their digital lives. By helping students better understand the platforms they use, manage their time and attention, and exercise greater agency online, the program provides a strong foundation for digital literacy and supports safer, healthier online engagement."

"Snapchat's platform safety team is encouraged by the Attention Literacy curriculum and its focus on empowering young people to become active, informed participants in their digital lives. By helping students better understand the platforms they use, manage their time and attention, and exercise greater agency online, the program provides a strong foundation for digital literacy and supports safer, healthier online engagement."

"Snapchat's platform safety team is encouraged by the Attention Literacy curriculum and its focus on empowering young people to become active, informed participants in their digital lives. By helping students better understand the platforms they use, manage their time and attention, and exercise greater agency online, the program provides a strong foundation for digital literacy and supports safer, healthier online engagement."

Snapchat Platform Safety Team

Recognized by the platform safety team

Give students the tools to understand the systems shaping their attention.

Give students the tools to understand the systems shaping their attention.

Attention Literacy works with schools, youth organizations, and community partners to bring practical digital literacy education directly to young people.