Children’s susceptibility to Russian disinformation may increase due to a decline in reading habits, according to Bridget Phillipson. The Education Secretary expressed concerns that diminishing reading skills among youth could jeopardize national security, as adversaries are leveraging advanced tactics on social platforms.
Phillipson emphasized the urgent need to cultivate a generation of critical thinkers, given the proliferation of state actors masquerading as credible news sources to disseminate deceptive content online. She underscored the evolving threat landscape, noting the sophisticated dissemination of disinformation with heightened production quality to mimic authentic news outlets.
In an article for the Telegraph, Phillipson highlighted the critical role of literacy and reading comprehension in safeguarding the country’s security. She stressed the imperative for individuals to discern and reject misinformation, advocating for a populace that values truth and resists the allure of online misinformation.
To address these challenges, the Department for Education, led by Phillipson, joined forces with the National Literacy Trust to launch a nationwide campaign aiming to designate 2026 as the official year of reading. The initiative seeks to reverse the declining trend in reading enjoyment among children, which has dropped from roughly half two decades ago to just a third presently.
Despite Phillipson’s initiative to introduce a Year 8 reading assessment, she faced opposition from teaching unions, including the National Education Union, cautioning against an overreliance on mandatory tests. Meanwhile, the UK confronts a wave of disinformation campaigns targeting societal stability and public trust in governmental institutions.
MI6’s new chief, Blaise Metreweli, highlighted the pervasive nature of these threats, asserting the need for heightened technological proficiency among intelligence operatives. Metreweli underlined the importance of integrating technology mastery into all operational aspects to combat emerging challenges effectively.
In conclusion, the evolving landscape of disinformation underscores the critical role of fostering literacy, critical thinking, and technology proficiency among the populace to mitigate threats to national security.