Children in England will soon be taught how to spot extremist content and misinformation online as part of planned changes to the school curriculum, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced.
The curriculum review aims to embed critical thinking across multiple subjects in both primary and secondary schools, equipping children with the skills to challenge conspiracy theories and disinformation often found on social media.
Phillipson, who is the Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, said the review would help “arm our children against putrid conspiracy theories” and prepare them to navigate the digital landscape critically. She emphasized the importance of providing young people with the knowledge and skills needed to challenge false narratives.
“It’s more important than ever that we give young people the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge what they see online,” Phillipson told the Sunday Telegraph. Our curriculum review will develop plans to embed critical skills in lessons to arm our children against the disinformation, fake news, and putrid conspiracy theories awash on social media.
The revised curriculum will integrate critical thinking into subjects across the board. For example, students may be asked to analyze newspaper articles in English lessons to help them differentiate between fabricated stories and truthful reporting. In computer lessons, students will learn how to identify fake news websites by analyzing their design. In maths lessons, they could learn to analyze statistics in context to understand how data can be manipulated.
“Our renewed curriculum will always put high and rising standards in core subjects—that’s non-negotiable,” Phillipson added. But alongside this, we will create a broad, knowledge-rich curriculum that widens access to cultural subjects and gives pupils the knowledge and skills they need to thrive at work and throughout life.
The move comes after misinformation spread on social media led to far-right riots across the UK, following the stabbing of three young girls in Southport on 29 July. Conspiracy theories about the suspect’s background and religion fueled anger and incited violence. Authorities have since been working to tackle those responsible for spreading disinformation.
Specialist police officers are currently pursuing online offenders and influencers suspected of spreading hate and inciting violence. According to the National Police Chiefs’ Council, teams are investigating hundreds of leads connected to the riots.
The moderation and regulation of social media platforms have also come under increased scrutiny. The UK government passed the Online Safety Act last year to regulate social media, but the legislation has not yet been fully implemented. London Mayor Sadiq Khan recently called the law “not fit for purpose” in the wake of the far-right riots, prompting Labour leader Keir Starmer to suggest that he would consider further strengthening social media regulations.
The proposed curriculum changes aim to give children the skills to think critically about the content they encounter online, providing them with tools to navigate misinformation and protect themselves from extremist influences. The Education Secretary hopes this initiative will contribute to building resilience among young people in a digital age where disinformation is increasingly widespread.
