Supporting Children with Media Literacy & AI

What does AI awareness and media literacy mean? Media literacy definition: Media literacy refers to the ability to be able to access, use, understand and create media. When we use the term ‘media’, this includes large scale communications – such as current affairs, social media etc. Media literacy draws on typical literacy skills, such as critical thinking and analysis, and applies them to media, to be able to grapple with different kinds of content. AI awareness definition: In this context, AI awareness refers to the ability to understand the usage and applications of artificial intelligence , and to consider its capabilities and impact. It links with the ability to decipher where AI has been used , such as within written content, imagery or video content. Children in today's digital world Ofcom states , ‘We no longer go online – we are online’, a sentiment that rings true for adults, children, and young people alike. Media, particularly in its digital form, constantly surrounds us. It’s become a part of our everyday lives, from turning on the television, scrolling on a phone, listening to the radio, using a tablet or computer, to even chatting with friends about online posts we’ve encountered. In recent years, AI-generated content has swept online spaces, often with convincing and tricky-to-spot imagery and videos being incorporated in feeds. While AI can sometimes be helpful, such as giving us quick answers to questions online, sometimes people can use it to mislead and harm, and create false content. Whilst online, children are likely to encounter AI content, so it’s important to support them in knowing the signs that something is AI-generated, to question what they see, and to share with trusted adults if they’re unsure. Some quick stats on children’s internet and device usage, and the prevalence of fake or misinformed content online, helps paint a clearer picture of the need for AI and media literacy skills: Ofcom found that 9 in 10 children own a mobile phone by the age of 11. Ofcom also determined that 64% of children aged 3 – 17 use apps for social media. Specsavers predict children aged 5 – 16 have a total of 6.3 hours of screen time per day in the UK. Research detailed by The Alan Turing Institute revealed that 94% of people in the UK have witnessed misinformation on social media. Only 22% of respondents identified news websites or apps as their main source of online news, with the bulk of respondents identifying platforms including social media as their main method of accessing the news, according to the 2024 Digital News Report . Ofcom found that TikTok is the most popular source for news among 12-15-year-olds who consume news. The Media Use and Attitudes Report found that young people aged 16 and 17 were less sure of their ability to distinguish the real from the fake online in 2024 than they were in 2023. //b667e803ea5399501dccf24f2b415eee.cdn.bubble.io/f1768388497533x320387546809720400/richtext_content.png Encouraging the children we teach to be media literate and aware of AI can provide them with the right tools to navigate and thrive in the digital world, now and in the future. So let’s explore media literacy in action in school! Media literacy in the curriculum The UK government’s plans to update the National Curriculum, set to be implemented by 2028, promises to “give young people the skills for life and work” . For the first-time ever, media literacy will be compulsory. At the heart of the update is a focus on preparing pupils to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage with the world around them. The change will support children to “spot fake news, understand online harms and critically evaluate evidence and sources”. Tips for building media literacy and AI skills Chat about the news Ask the children what they've heard in the news. What do they think? What questions do they have? Making news part of your regular routines in school can support children to feel comfortable with raising questions, concerns or ideas with you about different types of content. Look at news together Explore different news sources. Talk about the pictures and headlines – do they tell the full story? Help children identify common components of media content – a catchy hook, opinions, facts, quotes, images etc. What impact do they think these features have on the audience? Encourage curiosity So much can be learned from thinking deeply about online content. Some key evaluation points to work through with children include: Who made this? Why did they make it? Can we trust it? Developing questioning can support critical thinking skills, useful to analyse various types of media. Talk about facts and opinions Help the children spot what's fact (something true) and what's someone's opinion (what they think or feel). Sometimes, content can present opinions as facts, and facts as opinions. Together, analyse pieces of content to determine the differences. Think about the purpose Encourage children to consider the motivations behind a piece of content, whether it’s a TikTok video or newspaper article. Key things to reflect on: Is the information trying to inform, entertain, sell something, or persuade us? Try quizzes to spot AI content and misinformation Practise identifying AI-generated content (such as images) and false news stories through gamified quizzes. We recommend Newsround’s AI Image Quiz and Fake News Quiz to start! Try inspecting AI and news content together, to work out what it is that indicates something is false or has been created with AI. Zoom in on small details, the context behind the content, and reflect on whether it could possibly be realistic at all. Share your school values Talk about what matters to your school community and how to treat others with kindness and respect – even when people have different views. This can help embed important messages and values that children can uphold, helping them to respect others as they venture online. Be a role model Show your class how you check information or talk about news in a thoughtful way. How might you be able to work together when topics covered within the media are tough? Check out our sensitive news blog to learn more. Media Literacy and AI Training for KS2 Pupils! We’re hosting a brand-new 45 minute session online for children in KS2. The webinar will focus on AI and media literacy skills, how to spot AI content and think critically, and what to do about misinformation and fake news. Thursday 22 nd January 2026 9:30 – 10:15 (GMT) Free Zoom session Register for Media Literacy and AI Training for KS2 Pupils here! //b667e803ea5399501dccf24f2b415eee.cdn.bubble.io/f1768388590510x433460772778818900/richtext_content.png