Young People’s Media Literacy

Baroness Blower Excerpts

Thursday 22nd May 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Blower]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve young people’s media literacy by providing additional resources to schools, in terms of IT equipment, staffing, training and appropriate curriculum materials.

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)]

My Lords, the curriculum and assessment review’s interim report notes the rise of AI and trends in digital information and states that it is necessary that the curriculum keeps pace with these changes,

“including a renewed focus on digital and media literacy”

and critical thinking skills. There is already a range of resources and training available to schools on teaching media literacy. Once the review has completed, the Government will decide how best to provide any further support that schools need.

[Baroness Blower (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that response. Perhaps she is aware of the recent research, published by the National Education Union, which adds to the volume of material demonstrating that significant harm is experienced by young people from social media and from being online in general. Does she agree with me that the current curriculum review must address the need for greater access to all the arts, providing much better activities for children and young people to engage in, but that it must also weave through the school experience the skills and knowledge to deal effectively and, as she says, critically, with the online world, and that this will need resourcing?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that further question. She is absolutely right that it is vital that pupils are taught about staying safe online, but we have to remember that we live in a digital age and it is imperative that we strike a balance, so that young people can access the benefits of social media while we continue to put their safety and well-being first. The curriculum and assessment review is looking to see how it can widen the curriculum and the offer, in this specific area and all the areas that contribute to the well-being of young people and emerging adults. Of course, this will lead to curriculum requirements, and any information on funding to support this will be available after the review is finally published.