Ofcom has published a new set of recommendations aimed at improving media literacy across the UK, calling on online platforms, broadcasters and streaming services to help users better understand, assess and manage the content they encounter.
The regulator’s final framework contains 10 recommendations designed to give people greater control over their online experiences while helping them navigate an increasingly complex digital and information environment.
The recommendations form part of Ofcom’s statutory duty to promote media literacy and support its wider three-year strategy for helping citizens engage safely and critically with media content.
Ofcom said services should be designed to provide users with “meaningful choice” in how they engage with content. This includes adopting inclusive design principles and offering greater transparency around content recommendation systems and algorithms.
The regulator also wants platforms and broadcasters to provide users with practical tools to personalise their experiences and critically assess the credibility of information. Additional emphasis is placed on supporting parents and caregivers in helping younger audiences navigate online content.
A significant element of the recommendations focuses on industry collaboration. Ofcom is encouraging broadcasters, streaming services and online platforms to invest in educational initiatives, media literacy campaigns and partnerships that support critical engagement with content, particularly among underserved and diverse communities.
The recommendations come as concerns continue to grow over misinformation, AI-generated content and the role of recommendation algorithms in shaping public understanding of news and current affairs.
Ofcom said it expects platforms to make long-term commitments to media literacy activities and to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of those initiatives.
The final recommendation requires services to assess the impact of both their design choices and media literacy programmes, publishing findings and annual updates on their progress.
The proposals closely align with broader government efforts to strengthen media literacy. Earlier this week, the UK government’s Media Green Paper suggested public service broadcasters could be given a formal role in promoting media literacy as part of future reforms to the public service media system.
Ofcom said it will monitor how broadcasters and online services adopt the recommendations and report on progress before reviewing the framework again in 2029.
The recommendations are not legally binding, but the regulator said it expects services to adopt them as part of a coordinated effort to help audiences critically evaluate content and navigate digital media safely.
