Minister for AI and Online Safety (): Today I am laying
before Parliament the government's Media Literacy Action Plan. It
sets out our commitment to fostering a safe, informed and
resilient digital society.
Media literacy is an essential everyday skill that supports
people to understand and take part in modern life. It helps
people of all ages make sense of the information they encounter
online and assess whether it is reliable, communicate safely, and
navigate the internet with confidence. It supports understanding
of how platforms and new technologies, including artificial
intelligence, shape what people see and share, and enables
informed choices about personal information.
It also supports participation in everyday activities, including
exploring new interests, connecting with others and taking part
in democratic life. It is central to digital inclusion and to
ensuring that people can benefit from online services and
opportunities.
The importance of media literacy, and the need for
cross-government coordination, was highlighted by the Lords
Communications and Digital Committee in its 2025 inquiry. While
the Online Safety Act provides the regulatory foundation for
safer online experiences, regulation alone cannot address the
challenges created by misleading information, harmful content and
rapid technological change. Significant work on media literacy is
already taking place, with government departments, Ofcom,
charities, educators, libraries and industry partners delivering
media literacy activity across the UK. Education and public
empowerment are essential, and the government's wider programme
of work, including the consultation Growing up in the online
world: a national consultation, will support skills development
and in building resilience across society.
This Plan sets out a clear approach for a single, coordinated,
cross-government framework for the next three years, establishes
shared principles and priority areas for action, and provides a
clearer picture of the support available across the UK. The
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has provided
funding for a pilot media literacy campaign, and the Plan
otherwise integrates media literacy into existing initiatives
within departmental budgets.
Over the next three years, the government will focus on
priorities on building public awareness of media literacy and
supporting access to trusted information; preparing children and
young people for a digital future; boosting local initiatives to
support people facing barriers to participation; and ensuring a
coherent, coordinated approach across government and with
partners beyond it.
Through this work, the government's ambition is to ensure
that everyone can take part in the online world with confidence
and benefit fully from the opportunities it offers.
