Children “need a digital vaccination to combat fake news and improve their digital skills”

All children in the UK should be given a ‘digital vaccination’ giving them access to technology and digital skills to ensure they are not vulnerable to misinformation and close the digital divide, according to a new report.

The report says there is a need to create a framework of minimum standards for digital life to ensure that every household has a certain level of digital infrastructure, including fast broadband, a functioning digital device and training in digital skills.

The study was published by former Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield's Centre for Young Lives think tank and the Child of the North initiative – a research partnership between eight universities in the north of England.

It says that millions of children are disadvantaged because they do not have regular access to technology and the skills to use it optimally (the so-called digital divide), and warns that these children are therefore more exposed to the risks of fake news, disinformation and other dangers online.

In addition, these children are not sufficiently qualified when they enter the workforce in an increasingly digital and online-based world.

According to the study, 42% of young people – around six million children – do not have access to a broadband internet connection or a computer at home, and 75% of young people feel they lack the skills needed to succeed in the future. Almost half of young people say they are self-teaching digital skills.

The report highlights financial constraints as the main cause of the digital divide, with one million people reportedly cutting or cancelling their internet package for financial reasons. In the north-east of England, 12 percent of people are considered non-users of the internet, compared to just 7 percent in London.

According to the report, the cost of digital skills shortages in the UK is already estimated at £65 billion a year.

In response, the study calls on the government to consider introducing a framework of minimum standards for digital life, strengthen digital training and support for schools and teachers, and establish a central national resource platform for digital skills development.

Ms Longfield, executive chair of the Centre for Young Lives, said: “Children are growing up digitally, but we are not giving them the technology and skills they need to make the most of the opportunities it offers, or the protection they need to navigate the online world safely.

“Technology and the Internet provide access to a world of possibilities and are now a crucial part of our childhood and our future.

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“The recent outbreaks of violence in England have shown the consequences of disinformation and its real-world impact. It is vital that we develop more effective ways to prevent children and young people from being exposed to fake news and immunise them against its dangers.

“This means giving children the digital skills they need, giving teachers the time and training to keep pace with digital advances, and ensuring children learn about disinformation and other potential dangers online from a young age.

“We also need to equip children for the digital world they live in. Four in 10 children do not have broadband at home or a laptop or desktop computer. This is not just a problem that has emerged during Covid. This persistent digital divide is still leaving millions of children behind, which can have a profound impact on their educational outcomes and future employment prospects.

“We need to be much more creative and bold when it comes to closing the digital divide and improving access to technology and education.

“We cannot hope to achieve the goal of becoming a world-leading economy with a well-educated workforce as long as significant numbers of young people remain excluded from the digital world.”