A leading German social welfare association is advocating for mandatory media literacy education in all secondary schools, asserting that young people require dedicated instruction to navigate the complexities and potential pitfalls of the digital world.
Michaela Engelmeier, Chairwoman of the Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD), emphasized the need to equip children with the necessary skills to critically assess online content, stating that not all students benefit from guidance at home. The organization expresses concern that many young people are vulnerable to disinformation, extremist rhetoric and artificially generated content without the tools to understand and evaluate these materials.
The SoVD believes a standalone school subject-going beyond basic technical skills-is essential to foster responsible and data-conscious engagement with digital media, social networks and platform functionalities. They argue this focused education will empower children and adolescents to successfully confront the challenges of an increasingly digital society and ensure their meaningful participation in democratic processes.
The association cautioned against solely relying on restrictive measures, such as mobile phone bans, to address concerns within the school environment. Engelmeier stated that prohibitions often lead to surreptitious device usage and advocated for a more nuanced approach, promoting informed and regulated use. She emphasized the importance of allowing students to understand, question and utilize digital content independently.
The SoVD maintains that children and teenagers are currently operating within the digital sphere without adequate preparation for the associated risks, including the prevalence of disinformation, hate speech, algorithmic manipulation and the careless handling of personal data.
