Ofcom has published the final version of its three-year media literary strategy, following a consultation earlier this year. Also published is a statement setting out Ofcom’s responses to those who submitted their views during the consultation process, explaining why Ofcom ultimately reached its decisions.

Ofcom points out that the strategy is its first public articulation of a multi-year media literary strategy in 20 years, and comes at a time when “advancing media literacy to support people to navigate content safely, and to flourish online, is increasingly essential to our daily lives”. This includes, for example, ensuring that people from all ages can become better informed about how to use media and identify untrustworthy sources of information. The strategy also comes as a number of online services (including Google Search and Pinterest) have pledged to adopt Ofcom’s Best Practice Principles for Media Literacy by Design (about which see here).

The strategy itself identifies three ‘central elements’ on which Ofcom will focus: (1) research, evidence and evaluation; (2) emerging platforms; and (3) people and partnerships. Taking each in turn, Ofcom states that it is committed to improving how media literary can be measured and improved, focusing particularly on “what works for the delivery of media literacy interventions” and on the matters of media literacy that are outlined in the Online Safety Act 2023 (“OSA”). This includes understanding how to help people of all ages and backgrounds navigate the challenges of misinformation and disinformation, finding ways to increase users’ understanding of where and how their personal information is used by online services, and providing tools and guidance for organisations delivering media literary interventions.

On the subject of engaging platforms, Ofcom states that it will “consider how to use our powers and duties under the OSA to monitor what progress online services make in promoting media literacy, including by engaging the largest firms on the steps they take to support the literacy of their users. This may include evidence gathering to understand the impact of this activity where relevant and proportionate. In addition, we will consider including measures that support users’ media literacy in our online safety codes of practice”. In particular, Ofcom will promote a ‘media literacy by design’ approach for platforms, reporting where they could be doing more, and focusing on (1) misinformation and disinformation, (2) harmful content and activity that disproportionally affects women and girls; (3) protection of personal information; and (4) content of democratic importance. Ofcom will also work with platforms to encourage them to measure the impact of interventions and to fund media literacy programmes. As for broadcasters, Ofcom commits itself to reviewing what they are doing to support the media literacy of their audiences, particularly with regard to news, misinformation, and disinformation. This will be part of its wider Public Service Media review, the conclusions of which will be published next year.

Finally, Ofcom states that it will take “an equitable approach to delivery, focusing our resources on those who have particular media literacy needs, for example communities experiencing financial disadvantage, older people and children. We recognise that not all people with these characteristics will struggle with their media literacy, however this approach will help us to target our work and resources where they are likely to have the greatest impact.” This will entail, among other things, targeting interventions in the cohorts where the need is greatest, engaging with educational authorities, forging new relationships with community groups, and setting up an “emerging technology trend ad-hoc working group of experts from the media literacy sector and beyond who will identify the media literacy opportunities and challenges related to key elements of life online and explore how emerging and future technology may influence users’ experience”.

To read the strategy, click here. Ofcom’s response to the consultation can be read here.