Bridget Phillipson has raised concerns about the susceptibility of children to Russian disinformation, attributing it to a decrease in reading habits among youngsters.
The Education Secretary emphasized that the diminishing interest in reading among children could have far-reaching consequences for national security, especially as hostile entities are utilizing social media platforms with increasing sophistication.
Phillipson highlighted the urgent need for the UK to nurture a generation of critical thinkers, given the rise of state actors masquerading as credible news sources and propagating disinformation online.
In an article for the Telegraph, Phillipson underscored the potential security implications of declining literacy and reading comprehension abilities, citing the escalating threats posed by countries like Russia and other foreign state actors.
She emphasized the evolving landscape of disinformation on social media and the internet, noting the increasing sophistication of these threats, which are designed to mimic legitimate news sources.
Phillipson stressed the necessity of cultivating critical thinking skills and the ability to discern truth from falsehood in the face of online misinformation, calling for a generation of readers capable of navigating the digital realm responsibly.
To address these challenges, the Department for Education, under Phillipson’s leadership, has partnered with the National Literacy Trust to launch a nationwide campaign aimed at promoting reading and enhancing literacy rates by 2026.
The initiative seeks to reverse the declining trend in reading enjoyment among children, which has dropped from approximately half of children enjoying reading two decades ago to just a third today.
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