Children need to be 'vaccinated' against fake news and dangerous disinformation, academics have warned, and digital education must improve to ensure they don't fall prey to 'nefarious actors' online.
These are the recommendations of the latest Child of the North report, produced by academics at the University of Leeds alongside former Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield's Centre for Young Lives thinktank.
The report is the seventh in a series published in 2024 on how the new Government can put the life chances of young people at the heart of its policies.
It warns that children need better digital education to act as a 'vaccination' against a tsunami of fake news and disinformation; while pointing out that millions face being left behind in education as four in 10 children don't have the basics of broadband access and a working computer at home.
Children are growing up digital but we are not giving them the technology and skills they need
Anne Longfield, Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives, said: "Children are growing up digital but we are not giving them the technology and skills they need to make the most of the opportunities it brings or protection they need to navigate the online world safely. Technology and the internet provide access to a world of opportunity and are now a crucial part of childhood and our futures."
The report pointed to recent outbreaks of violence in England as a sign of the consequences of disinformation and its impact on the real world.
The UK needs to develop "more effective ways of preventing children and young people from being exposed to fake news and vaccinate them against its dangers," Ms Longfield added.
"That means providing children with the digital skills they need, providing teachers with the time and training to keep up to date with digital advancement, and ensuring children are learning about disinformation and other potential online harms from an early age."
Key findings
Alongside this, the researchers say that with as many as four in 10 children – nearly six million – living without access to broadband at home or a working computer, Britain faces a stark "digital divide" that worsens inequality and threatens our workforce and economy.
Other key findings include:
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, one in five children lacked access to a suitable device for home study.
- 48% of boys and 42% of girls surveyed had seen harmful content online in the previous month.
- Projections suggest that 5 million workers will be under-skilled in basic digital capabilities by 2030, while 75% of young people feel they lack the necessary skills to thrive. Almost half of young people are teaching themselves digital skills but many can't access the computers they need.
- Participation in IT subjects at GCSE level has dropped by 40% since 2015.
- 1 million people have either cut back or cancelled their internet packages due to financial constraints.
- Digital skills shortages are estimated to cost the UK £65bn each year.
"The UK's future depends on our children and young people acquiring digital skills. The prosperity of countries will increasingly depend on their ability to harness the digital revolution, and this needs a workforce with the necessary technological skills. Upskilling the next generation will also protect them against the countless nefarious actors in the online world and create a population who can distil useful facts and discard misinformation.
Upskilling the next generation will also protect them against the countless nefarious actors in the online world
"This report lays out the evidence for the new government so that they can work with and through education settings to 'digitally vaccinate' the next generation and ensure all children and young people have the skills required for the jobs of the future."
Evidence- based recommendations
The researchers are now urging Ministers to adopt their new evidence-based policy recommendations, including:
- Establishing a "Minimum Digital Living Standards" framework, and using subsidies or vouchers to make sure all households have the basics of high-speed broadband, a functioning computer or laptop, and essential digital skills training.
- Better training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for teachers, with dedicated time set aside, to make sure they can stay up to date with the latest digital advancements.
- Creating a national Digital Creativity "Skills Commons", an open-access, subscription-free service where people can obtain evidence-informed resources, including training materials, funding guidance, and a registry of organisations working in digital inclusion and digital skills.
From beginners to experts in just one year
Forward-thinking projects across the North of England are already boosting children's internet access and digital skills.
The report's authors have praised Bradford-based Impact Gamers, a BAFTA-winning non-profit community interest company that offers free after-school game coding sessions for 8 to 16-year-olds.
Established seven years ago in response to the lack of free extracurricular activities, it works on not only developing IT skills but also building confidence, self-esteem, and social skills.
By providing essential skills training the project empowers young people in one of England's most deprived areas. It is funded through a combination of small grants and revenue generated from commercial game-making, and its work is so transformational that within a year many young participants go from struggling with basic computer use to being so confident and skilled that they can contribute to Impact Gamers' commercial work.
