Perspectives, Bias and Inclusion: In Texts and in Your Feed

Remember from Grade 7

In Grade 7 you found implicit perspectives in a narrator's words, named evidence of bias (like everybody), suggested ways to avoid bias, and learned about misinformation, disinformation and curated information.

In Grade 8 you'll evaluate bias in a news-style article, analyze a text about accessibility and inclusion and the different positions around it, and look closely at how your online feed curates perspectives for you.

Hook: Whose story is it?

A headline says: Teens Take Over Mall Food Court. Another says: Mall Food Court Becomes Teens' Only Winter Hangout. Same event. Which one makes teens sound like a problem? Which makes them sound like people without anywhere else to go? Headlines carry perspectives.

Mall Cracks Down on Teen Loiterers (a community newsletter article written for this website)

After weeks of complaints, the Larkspur Bay Mall will now require anyone under 16 to be with an adult after 3 p.m. on weekdays.

"Gangs of teenagers have been loitering in the food court every afternoon, scaring off real customers," said Glen Harper, owner of Harper's Shoes. "Something had to be done."

Mall manager Rita Chen said the rule will "restore a family-friendly atmosphere." Several shoppers agreed. "It's just common sense," said one.

The rule begins Monday.

How could the writer avoid bias?

• Use neutral words: teens who spend afternoons in the food court instead of gangs of teenagers loitering.
• Include affected voices: interview teens, parents and the youth centre, not only store owners.
• Give specific evidence: The mall received 14 written complaints in October, mostly about noise.
• Ask the deeper question: Where else can teens go after school in winter?
• Use a neutral headline: Mall Introduces Adult-Supervision Rule for Under-16s After 3 p.m.

A fairer version adds: "We buy food here. We're not doing anything wrong," said Amira, 14. "The library closes at 4, and the community centre is three kilometres away."

A text about accessibility and inclusion

Quiet Hour at the Rink (a feature article written for this website)

Every Sunday from 9 to 10 a.m., the Larkspur Bay arena now holds a Quiet Hour: no music over the speakers, softer lights, no horn, and a limit of 30 skaters. The idea came from Jonah Clarke, 13, who is autistic. "Loud noise and flashing lights make my brain feel like it's on fire," he said. "I love skating. I just couldn't stand the arena."

The arena now offers a sensory-friendly hour, an idea some stores, theatres and museums also use. Skaters of all ages come: a grandmother recovering from a concussion, a family with a baby, a few teens who "just like it calm."

Not everyone is pleased. "Sunday morning was our best public skate for money," said one staff member. "Limiting it to 30 people costs us." A parent of a hockey player asked whether the hour could move so practice ice isn't lost.

Arena manager Sam Okeke says the town will review attendance in March. "Accessibility isn't a favour," he said. "It's part of the job."

Perspectives in your feed

Your social media or video feed is a text too, and it has perspectives built in.

• Curated feeds: platforms use algorithms to choose what you see, based on what you click, watch, like and share. If you watch three videos against a new rule, you may soon see only that side: a filter bubble. The feed's perspective is implicit: no one tells you what's left out.
• Sponsored content: an influencer who praises a product may have been paid. In Canada, advertising rules say influencers must clearly disclose paid partnerships (for example #ad or Paid partnership). Look for the label, and ask whether the post would be the same without the money.
• Engagement bait: angry, shocking posts often get more clicks, so feeds may show more outrage than real life has.

What you can do: search for other perspectives on purpose; follow sources from different communities; check claims with lateral reading (open a new tab and see what other reliable sources say about the claim and the source); notice when a post makes you angry fast.