Finland has updated its national Media Literacy Education Policy in response to the rise in artificial intelligence, algorithms and information influencing activities changing the media world.
Published in May 2026, this is the third iteration of the Finnish Media Literacy Education Policy. The first iteration, Good Media Literacy: National Policy Guidelines 2013–2016, focused on children and young people. The 2019 update, Media Literacy in Finland – National Media Education Policy, extended the target group to people of all ages, and notably treated media literacy as a key civic competence needed for full participation in society.
This latest version moves towards a cross-cutting societal strategy. The vision for the policy is based on the belief that media education enhances critical media literacy and wellbeing of all those who live in Finland, as well as their participation in society and culture. The policy also positions media education as a key part of comprehensive security, strengthening democracy and building trust and hope in society.
“Media literacy is a key civic skill that we need in our everyday lives and through which we promote democracy. At the same time, broader security thinking and societal resilience have taken on an increasingly important role, and we strengthen these by safeguarding critical media literacy. To promote media literacy, we need shared guidelines based on research-based knowledge, up-to-date research, and practical application,” says Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie.
This policy sets three main objectives:
- Strengthening agency: Media education that strengthens agency increases citizens’ inclusion and promotes equality and wellbeing in different communities and society as a whole.
- Competence development: Competence is generated and strengthened through education, research, working life and experience. Media literacy that strengthens agency and wellbeing is achieved through the media education skills of professionals, high-quality media education, and citizens’ individual and joint learning.
- Promoting sustainability: The economic, cultural, social and ecological sustainability of media education is strengthened when the work in the field is long term, based on inclusion and environmental awareness, supported by flexible structures and a varied financing base, and is underpinned by strong coordination and collaboration.
A total of 21 measures are proposed to help achieve the three objectives. The implementation of this policy is divided between the public sector, private organisations and the third sector, with the Finnish Arts and Cultural Agency preparing an implementation plan based on information gathered about current activities and future stakeholder plans up to 2031.
The high-level nature of the policy means the plan can adapt more flexibly as technology changes. The full policy can be accessed here.
