What Is Digital Literacy?

One of the major ideas presented in this course stems from the question - "Is simply knowing the ways that media influences culture and society (viewers, listeners, readers, etc.) enough to satisfy as literacy in the digital age we find ourselves in?"  And this - "If we know what a profound effect media has on us as citizens, as women, as young girls, as students, as employees, as people, then would it be more effective to encourage a contribution to the media presented and available, rather than simply a healthy awareness of what other people and corporate companies are putting out there?"

Obviously, teaching girls that they are in fact effected by the images placed before them and the content of the songs they listen to or the tv shows they watch may not be as innocent as they may think is important.  Many young girls are not even taught to question the ideal body type, the sexualization of their favorite television show characters, or the constant barrage of commercials that are selling them products aimed at changing/bettering their appearance in some way.  And because this is a sad truth, educational programs are indeed necessary and good.  But to stop there implies the notion that there is nothing that girls can do about it, and I feel as though that is the major problem with the majority of resources available.

In browsing, for example, I came across this website, Media Awareness Network.  It offers a variety of tools and resources for parents and teachers that allow them to broach the subject of media with their children and students, which is wonderful.  But I can't seem to find any sort of encouragement in giving a girl a video camera, or digital camera, and setting her up with her own editing system so that she can learn to contribute to the conversation that the media has begun and continues in regards to girls and women.  We have at our disposal, things like BlogSpot, Wordpress, Facebook, and YouTube.  These are tools that can very easily be utilized in basic media production for girls, and communities can be formed that question the status quo of what media has been allowed to present for so long.

Where are the sites and resources that foster that type of literacy?