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British Government Launch New Online Media Literacy Strategy to Help Internet Users Remain Safe and Informed Online

To coincide with the launch, Cybersmile’s free open-source education program has been recognized by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport as a useful resource for preventing cyberbullying and helping users to remain safe and informed online. If you are affected by anything touched on within this article, follow the links to our various support services or click on the blue logo icon at the bottom right of the screen to start using Cybersmile Assistant, our smart AI support assistant.

The UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has unveiled its new Online Media Literacy Strategy, which sets out the government’s plan to coordinate media literacy education to empower user to make safer and more informed choices online. The strategy will support the UK’s sector of more than 170 organizations that are working to improve media literacy via a new Media Literacy Framework which outlines best practice principles to inform the content and delivery of media literacy education.

The rise in misinformation and disinformation online and on social media during the global pandemic is a perfect example of how false or misleading online content affects users, with the spread of potentially harmful fake COVID-19 treatments and falsehoods about 5G which led to vandalism of telephone masts in a number of locations.

“False or confused information spread online could threaten public safety and undermine our democracy. Through the Media Literacy Strategy, we will channel the efforts of dedicated UK organisations and bring the fight to fake news by making the young, vulnerable and wider online community more resistant and resilient to it.”

Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State for Digital and Culture

The concerns regarding levels of digital literacy have also been highlighted by findings from a number of studies. According to Ofcom, 40% of adult internet users do not have the skills to critically assess online content, while the National Literacy Trust found that just 2% of children have the critical thinking skills needed to tell fact from fiction online.

“False or confused information can have devastating consequences, both physically and mentally. The Media Literacy Strategy will be key in helping young people to develop the skills needed to identify potentially harmful or inaccurate information and to think more critically about the content they and other people share online.”

Dan Raisbeck, Co-Founder, The Cybersmile Foundation

To coincide with the launch, Cybersmile’s free open-source education program has been recognized by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport as a useful resource for preventing cyberbullying and helping users to remain safe and informed online. In addition to a completely free comprehensive library of lesson plans for schools, Cybersmile’s interactive education program is free to use for everybody including educators and covers a wide range of topics including Body Image, Using Instagram’s Safety Tools, Positive Gaming, LGBT Awareness, Content Authenticity and many more.

If you are affected by anything touched on within this article, we can help you. Visit our Help Center or click on the blue logo icon at the bottom right of the screen to open Cybersmile Assistant, our smart AI support assistant.

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