PP3: Digital and Media Literacy

Digital and Media Literacy: What the World Can Learn from Finland 

Photo from World Economic Forum.

In today's digital landscape riddled with misinformation, sensationalized headlines, and deepfakes, media literacy has become one of the most essential tools in navigating the world. The ability to critically analyze various forms of content is incredibly important in being able to discern facts from falsehoods. While many countries struggle to combat the issue of declining media literacy, Finland stands out as a global leader. Through a comprehensive strategy that integrates media literacy into the education system, Finland provides a model that other nations can learn from. The country's success highlights the importance of educating citizens on media literacy from an early age in order to flourish into adulthood with handling false information. 

Finland's proactive approach to media literacy is the result of years of planning and investing into resources that promote a resistance to misinformation. These resources are interwoven into Finland's education system, focusing on early learning and cultivation. Whether in language classes, history lessons, or even art, students learn how media shapes narratives and influences public perception. Students learn not only how to analyze media, but how to make sure their own media is accurate and informative (Finland Toolbox). 

Chart from The Nordic Policy Centre.

In recent years, Finland has begun shifting their literacy focus from physical media to digital media. In 2013, the Good Media Literacy National Guidelines was released by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and outlines the elements that go into media literacy education. The guidelines promote strong literacy practices in an age where media environments and cultures are constantly changing, and how to handle those ever-growing changes. 

In addition, in 2019, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture released the National Media Education Policy, which emphasizes lifelong learning and the importance of critical media skills. This policy goes beyond just using technology in the classroom—it focuses on teaching how to think about the information that they consume. From a young age, Finnish children are taught to question sources, analyze messaging, and evaluate digital content for accuracy and bias. 

Another project that Finland's Ministry of Education and Culture has released is the New Literacies Programme in 2020. This program's objective is to make media literacy skills stronger in children by introducing initiatives that teach about technology and analytical skills in the classroom. By equipping students with the tools to navigate and question digital content from an early age, this program helps lay the foundation for a more critically engaged population. 

Video on Finland's curriculum from CBS Sunday Morning. 

Media literacy educational resources are not only available to younger Finnish generations, though. Programs like EnterSenior allow older citizens to access resources that teach them how to use and interpret newer technology. In addition, Finland hosts a Media Literacy Week every year in February, where individuals of all ages are taught about how they can strengthen their media literacy skills. These initiatives ensure that no one is left behind, regardless of age and technological skills. 

A presentation on Media Literacy Week. 

Globally, other countries have taken note. The European Digital Media Observatory, for example, has highlighted Finland's model in various recommendations. While not every nation can replicate Finland's approach exactly due to differences in educational systems, resources, and political structures, the core ideas are transferable. These include starting media education early and encouraging citizens to pursue resources that can strengthen their media literacy skills. 

Finland still faces challenges with media literacy in this digital age, though. With the introduction of AI specifically, new layers of complexity are added to media literacy efforts. There are active discussions on how to handle AI among populations, though, with Finnish Ministers of Education signing a Declaration on AI and Media Literacy in 2025 (Republic of Estonia). But by equipping citizens with the skills to question, evaluate, and understand media in all its forms, Finland is already a few steps ahead of the rest of the world. 

An image of Ministers signing the Declaration on AI and Media Literacy. 

To conclude, Finland's media literacy revolution highlights a compelling response to the challenges of misinformation in this digital age. By embedding policies and resources into early education curriculums, Finland has shown that they are committed to having media-savvy citizens. As the world continues to grapple with the consequences of viral falsehoods and manipulated media, Finland stands as a beacon of what's possible when a country invests into its population's wellbeing.