Better Internet for Kids

The Ministry of Education and Culture published the new policy document, Media Education in Finland (in Finnish), in December 2019. The preparation process was assigned to the National Audiovisual Institute, coordinating organisation of the Finnish Safer Internet Centre (SIC). Here is a short description of the new policy and the work behind it.

In Finland, the field of media literacy is wide and diverse. There is variety of actors working in the field, dissecting media literacy from different perspectives and cooperating with different groups of people. This multifaceted setting was taken into account by offering various possibilities to participate in the policy preparation process.

During this process, the National Audiovisual Institute

• conducted an open survey online;
• organised local workshops;
• interviewed academics;
• made a policy review;
• and published the draft for open commenting.

In total, over a hundred stakeholders participated to the preparation process of the policy.

The published policy document presents a vision, mutual goals and proposed actions. According to this vision, media literacy will be promoted and fostered through systematic and comprehensive high-quality media education. It consists of three specific goals, presented in the policy:

1. The media education provided in Finland is comprehensive in terms of content, viewpoints, target groups and geographical coverage.
2. Finland has media education that is of a high quality, meaningful and available to all. The quality of media education is evaluated and improved through research.
3. The media education provided in Finland is systematic and has a long-term perspective.

The concrete actions related to these goals (six to eight actions per goal) include, for example, developing networks, promoting research-based initiatives and taking into account the local contexts.

In addition to the shared goals and proposed actions, the published document seeks to clarify the field in media education and to describe the strengths, values and principles of Finnish media education. It also points out development needs and the social, cultural and technological trends that affect them.

The present policy document supports media education development and operational planning. Stakeholders that may participate in implementing the proposed actions include ministries, public agencies, local authorities and municipalities, NGOs, foundations, companies, educational institutions and other communities.

For more information, read the policy document, "Media Education in Finland" (translated in English).

Find out more information about the work of the Finnish Safer Internet Centre (SIC) generally, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services on the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) portal, or find similar information for Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.