In Finland, the fight against disinformation begins as early as kindergarten. Media literacy has been part of the national curriculum for decades, and teachers are now adding artificial intelligence literacy, amid growing concerns over large-scale disinformation campaigns across Europe, reports the Associated Press, cited by Mediafax.
Children in Finland learn from a very young age how to analyze media content and recognize false information. This long-term strategy aims to strengthen societal resilience, particularly given Finland’s 1,340-kilometer border with Russia. The country’s NATO accession in 2023 has further heightened security concerns, although Moscow has repeatedly denied interference.
“We see strong media skills as a very important civic competence,” said Kiia Hakkala, a pedagogical expert for the city of Helsinki. “It is very important for the security of the nation and for the security of our democracy.”
At Tapanila Primary School in Helsinki, teacher Ville Vanhanen teaches fourth-grade students how to spot fake news. “It’s a bit difficult,” admitted 10-year-old student Ilo Lindgren during a classroom exercise called “Fact or fiction?”. Students analyze headlines, sources, and visuals and now also learn how to identify AI-generated images and videos.
Finnish media outlets actively support these efforts. In 2024, Helsingin Sanomat distributed a new “Media Literacy ABC” to all 15-year-olds starting high school. “It’s crucial for us to be seen as a trusted source of verified information,” said editor-in-chief Jussi Pullinen.
Finland regularly ranks first in the European Media Literacy Index developed by the Open Society Institute. Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz warned: “We did not imagine we would be bombarded with disinformation, or that our democracy would be tested in this way.”
Photo: freepik.com
