Involving Families in Media Literacy
Creating a Shared Responsibility for Critical Thinking
In the digital age, young people are immersed in an environment where news, opinions, and online content are constantly at their fingertips. While schools are essential for developing Media and Information Literacy (MIL), the influence of home life and family discussions is equally significant. Ensuring that media literacy is understood and valued beyond the classroom is key to making its impact lasting and meaningful.
Why Families Are a Crucial Part of the Equation
Much of a young person’s exposure to media happens outside of school – on personal devices, during leisure time, and within family conversations. If parents and carers understand the importance of critical thinking and the risks posed by misinformation, they can reinforce the skills pupils are learning in school. This creates a consistent approach between the classroom and the home, making it easier for young people to apply these skills in everyday life.
Research by the European Commission, UNESCO, and other international bodies highlights that media literacy initiatives are most effective when they involve the broader community. Families are not just passive observers; they influence how young people interpret information, discuss current events, and develop their own opinions. When families are aware of the tactics behind disinformation and the value of evidence-based reasoning, they are better equipped to support informed, respectful discussions at home.
Strengthening the Education–Home Connection
The MILES project recognises that building resilience to misinformation requires cooperation between schools and families. By ensuring that media literacy is not confined to the classroom, but embedded in everyday conversations, young people can develop a more confident, reflective approach to the information they encounter.
This connection between education and home life is not about transferring formal lessons into the living room, but about fostering a shared understanding of the principles behind MIL. It means encouraging curiosity, asking questions, and recognising the importance of reliable information – values that can be supported as much by parents and carers as by teachers.
Towards a More Informed Society
Embedding media literacy in both school and home environments helps create communities that are more resilient to the influence of misinformation. This shared responsibility ensures that pupils are not navigating the digital world alone, but are supported by adults who can guide them in evaluating and discussing what they see and hear.
By extending the conversation from the classroom to the living room, MILES contributes to building a culture where critical thinking is not just a skill for schoolwork, but a habit for life.