wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_155
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-14 conversation_155

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to commission research on the potential correlation between trends in children's media literacy levels and their susceptibility to social media harms. \p Catherine McKinnell: Media literacy can help tackle a wide variety of online safety issues for all internet users, including children.

Media literacy is currently taught through the national curriculum for citizenship at key stages 3 and 4. The guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-citizenship-programmes-of-study. Citizenship teaches about critical media literacy in relation to the proper functioning of a democracy, distinguishing fact from opinion as well as exploring freedom of speech and the role and responsibility of the media in informing and shaping public opinion. Primary schools can choose to teach citizenship, using non-statutory programmes of study at key stages 1 and 2. The guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/citizenship-programmes-of-study-for-key-stages-1-and-2.

As part of the statutory guidance for relationships and health education (RHE) in primary schools and relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) in secondary schools, pupils are taught about online safety and harms. The RSHE guidance for primary is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education/relationships-education-primary. The RSHE guidance for secondary can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education/relationships-and-sex-education-rse-secondary. This includes being taught about the implications of sharing private or personal data, including images, online, harmful content, cyberbullying, and over-reliance on social media.

The RSHE statutory guidance is currently under review. As part of this process, the department will explore whether additional content is required, including content regarding online safety and harm.

Teaching about online safety also complements the computing curriculum, which ensures pupils are taught how to use digital technologies safely, responsibly, respectfully and securely, from key stage 1 to key stage 4, with progression in the content to reflect the different and escalating risks that pupils face. The guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-computing-programmes-of-study.

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The review will consider the key digital skills needed for future life and critical thinking skills to ensure children are resilient to misinformation and extremist content online. The review group will publish an interim report in early spring setting out its interim findings and confirming the key areas for further work, and publish its final report with recommendations this autumn.

The Online Safety Act updated Ofcom’s statutory duty to promote media literacy and to raise the public’s awareness of the nature and impact of harmful content and online behaviour. Ofcom conducts research to assess media literacy skills and experiences, including potential harms, through various trackers such as the Children and Parents' Media Literacy Tracker and the Online Experiences Tracker, which includes focus on children’s media use, attitudes, and understanding.

Since 2022, the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology has provided nearly £3 million in funding for media literacy projects. In 2024, this included £0.5 million to scale up two programmes, to provide media literacy support to teachers, children aged 11-16, parents/carers and other professionals working with families.