The decline in reading among children could leave them more susceptible to Russian disinformation, according to a warning by Bridget Phillipson. The Education Secretary emphasized that the diminishing reading habits of youngsters may jeopardize national security, especially as hostile entities are leveraging social media with increasing sophistication.
Phillipson stressed the necessity for the UK to cultivate a generation of critical thinkers, as state actors are masquerading as credible news outlets to disseminate false information online. She highlighted the escalating threat posed by Russia and other foreign actors, particularly through the dissemination of disinformation on social media platforms and the broader internet.
In an article for the Telegraph, Phillipson underscored the importance of combatting the spread of disinformation by nurturing individuals who can critically evaluate information presented to them, value truth, and resist the allure of online falsehoods. She emphasized the need for a generation that prioritizes reading and analytical thinking to counter the growing threats of misinformation.
To address these challenges, Phillipson’s Department for Education has partnered with the National Literacy Trust to launch a nationwide campaign aimed at making 2026 the national year of reading. This initiative seeks to reverse the declining reading rates among children, which have dropped from approximately half of kids enjoying reading two decades ago to just a third today.
Despite the Education Secretary’s plans to introduce a new Year 8 reading test, she has encountered opposition from teaching unions, including the National Education Union. The UK is confronting a surge of disinformation and propaganda intended to undermine societal stability and trust in government institutions, as highlighted by the recent remarks of MI6’s Blaise Metreweli.
Metreweli emphasized the need for enhanced technological proficiency among intelligence operatives to effectively combat emerging threats. She stressed the importance of mastering technology, including computer programming languages like Python, to equip officers with the skills necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of espionage and cyber threats.