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1. National strategy

2. Media literacy and online safety through formal education

3. Promoting media literacy and online safety through non-formal and informal learning

4. Raising awareness about the risks posed by new media

National strategy

In alignment with EU Youth Strategy (2019–2027), Finland’s National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme 2024–2027 (VANUPO) recognises media literacy and critical thinking as a means to support young people. 

The policy programme published by the Ministry of Education and Culture explicitly mentions strengthening the functions of the Finnish Safer Internet model. The model operates through the Finnish Safer Internet Centre (FISIC), a joint project between the National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI), Save the Children Finland (STC), and the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL). 

Finland’s national media literacy policy is grounded on the national media education policy document Media Literacy in Finland, written by Saara Salomaa and Lauri Palsa, National Audiovisual Institute and published by the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2019. The document updates and extends the original cultural policy guidelines for media literacy (in Finnish) published in 2013. According to the three main objectives of the media education policy, media education in Finland ought to be comprehensive, of high quality and systematic in promoting media literacy, covering all types of media. The 2019 policy document stems from Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government Programme (2019–2023), which highlighted the need for media skills in all age groups. The Ministry of Education and Culture’s press release (in Finnish) on 21 January 2025 stated that the national guidelines will be updated during 2025. 

The media education policy document states that there are also several sector-specific strategies necessary for taking media education into account and to provide more detailed guidance for practical actions, such as education curricula and library policies. 

The Ministry of Education and Culture supports the promotion of media literacy by allocating resources and providing information guidance. Two agencies operating under the ministry are the National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI) and the Finnish National Agency for Education. 

KAVI, established in early 2012, is the only party with a statutory duty to promote media education in Finland. KAVI’s Department for Media Education and Audiovisual Media (MEKU) is responsible for the promotion and coordination of media education at a national level, and the supervision of the provision of audiovisual programmes from the perspective of protecting children. The implementation of the media literacy policy will be regularly studied and evaluated by KAVI in collaboration with stakeholders and the Ministry of Education and Culture. 

Other relevant ministries include the Ministry of Justice, which promotes media literacy as a part of democracy education. The Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Finnish Transport and Communication Agency (Traficom) co-operate in organising, for example, campaigns such as the Media Literacy Week, and offering expertise on the safe use of the internet. 

Media literacy and online safety through formal education

The Finnish National Agency for Education promotes media education in formal education. It prepares and makes decisions about the core curricula for basic education and upper secondary education, the core curriculum for early childhood education and care, and frameworks for vocational and competence-based qualifications. 

As stated in Media Literacy in Finland, the latest revisions to curricula at all levels from early childhood education to secondary level and basic education for adults have been important for the promotion of media literacy. Firstly, media literacy is developed from the perspective of supporting the objectives and key content of instruction in each subject, such as Finnish and literature, visual arts, social studies, history, and health education. Additionally, media literacy is also developed within the framework of multidisciplinary learning modules where it is understood as being part of multiliteracy. 

The National core curriculum for general upper secondary schools describes the main topics for learning related to multiliteracy as a multidisciplinary module. Media education and literacy are embedded in various subjects, including mother tongue, language and literature education (e.g., Finnish, sign-language, Swedish, Sami, and Roma languages), visual arts, music, geography (i.e., geomedia), civics, religion, and ethics. The focus is narrowed to critical literacy, being familiar with the key norms related to copyrights and freedom of speech, as well as responsibility in producing, using, and sharing content. Media ethics, media’s role in identity building, and social participation are also represented in the curriculum. In upper secondary education, students may also complete an optional diploma for media studies. The themes of online safety and the dangers of addiction are included in the content of health education as described in the national core curricula. Although not specifically targeted at media education, it is important to note that a revised version of the curriculum will enter into force on 1 August 2025. Section YouthWiki/ Finland 6.6 Social inclusion through education and training can be consulted for more information. 

Regarding pedagogical tools, the National Agency for Education offers a platform, Mediaosaaminen (in Finnish), where pedagogical tools and support for media literacy education are available for teachers. Teacher training related to media literacy is also offered by universities and other educational institutions, as well as by some NGOs. The National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI) offers special grants (in Finnish) for promoting media literacy and education in Finland. In 2025, the grant was 244,904 euros in total. Projects promoting inclusive media activity of adults, AI literacy skills in youth work practices, and animal-rights-based media education for lower and upper secondary education institutions received the grant. 

Promoting media literacy and online safety through non-formal and informal learning

The main top-level national policy for media education in non-formal and informal learning is the previously mentioned policy document Media Literacy in Finland, created in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI). 

The document recognises that, based on the Act on National Audiovisual Archive (2007), KAVI is responsible for promoting media education at a national level. This duty is realised by KAVI’s Department for Media Education and Audiovisual Media (MEKU). The objectives of the media policy programme are implemented through various long-term measures, such as the Online Media Literacy School and the Finnish Safer Internet Centre (FISIC) projects, which align with the European BIK+ strategy. 

The Ministry of Education and Culture also promotes media education and literacy at the NGO level. The Finnish Society on Media Education, whose work is grounded in the Youth Act, can be regarded as a central NGO in the media education field. The main objectives of the society include raising awareness of research-based information, sharing good practices, training educators, and producing materials, also in English and Swedish. The society is also a global actor and a member of UN Alliance of Civilizations Media Literacy Education Clearinghouse, and works in co-operation with International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth and Media. Media literacy in Finland also mentions various other actors working with children, youth, and media, including the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, Save the Children Finland, the Finnish Parents’ League, the Finnish 4H Organisation, and the Youth Work Centres of Expertise. 

National authorities have also funded and given recognition to innovative initiatives in media education. In 2025, the Generation AI – consortium project received the Finnish Open Educational Resource award. The project is led by Professor Matti Tedre from the University of Eastern Finland, realised in collaboration between various Finnish universities, educational science institutions and societies, and funded by the Strategic Research Council (SRC). SRC operates in connection with the Research Council of Finland, which again operates under the administrative branch of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. The Open Science and Research Award is granted by the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, which receives funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture. 

Raising awareness about the risks posed by new media

At a general level, better and safer use of the internet for all age groups, including children and young people, is promoted by the functions of the Finnish Safer Internet Centre (FISIC). Awareness-raising takes place, for example, through the Media Literacy Week, the Safer Internet Day campaign, the Nordic Game Day, and the Media Education Forum. More information on these initiatives is available on the EU subpage Finnish Safer Internet Centre. The free English language resources for media education, provided by KAVI, also provide educational information on topics such as ‘media fears’ and ‘deepfake’. The project is co-financed by the European Union. 

Promoting media literacy is also supported by the Creative Europe funding programme. According to the Finnish National Agency for Education (in Finnish), the following projects with Finnish participants received funding in the 2024 application round:

• Endgame project (coordinated by the University of Eastern Finland, participants include Factbar)
• PRIME - Primary Information (participants include Factbar and the European School of Helsinki)
• Media Education project and the Content Analysis and Research Lab (CARL) (Participants include Savo-Karjalan Media Oy)

The funded projects also provide tools for young people to interact in online environments in a responsible way. For example, the PRIME –programme’s goals include ‘developing interactive toolkits for the online environment’. 

Grooming 

Save the Children Finland aims to combat grooming through the Finnish Hotline Nettivihje, where material and activity related to online child sexual abuse can be reported. Save the Children Finland has also hosted webinars and provides information regarding grooming, harassment, and abuse online, as well as self-help material for individuals experiencing sexual interest in children. 

In addition to Save the Children Finland, Loisto settlement ry’s (based in the Helsinki area) programme For You on Social Media (Sua varten somessa, in Finnish) is another example of an initiative targeting children and young people aged 8–21 years, aiming to decrease sexual harassment and violence against them on social media. Young people are able to contact youth workers through social media and receive support and guidance. The programme has been awarded the Youth Work Recognition Award in 2022 by the Minister of Education and Culture, Antti Kurvinen. 

In September 2024, the Finnish Government reported that the Recognise, learn, report!” campaign seeks to prevent crime occurring online. It is described that the ‘campaign will increase awareness and call attention to the importance of discussions about digital everyday activities’. The campaign is realised by the National Police Board, the National Bureau of Investigation, Save the Children Finland and the Protect Children association, and focuses on recognition, reporting and prevention of crimes in online environments. Helping young people recognise online sexual violence is recognised as a special focus area. 

Cyberbullying 

At the moment, as stated on the Council of Europe’s subpage Finland – Cyberviolence, ‘Finland doesn’t have specific provisions regarding online offences/cyberbullying offences either. The coverage of these offences is to some degree unclear but nevertheless it’s possible to say that acts like these are covered by many Criminal Code provisions ‘. 

FINEEC’s Evaluation of methods that prevent bullying and improve wellbeing and the working atmosphere final report (2023) noted that bullying on digital platforms does not come to the attention of school personnel as easily as bullying in the physical school environment. 

In addition, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL) published a report, Youth and Cyberbullying 2025 (in Finnish), which examined experiences of cyberbullying among 13–18-year-old young people. According to the report, cyberbullying has increased on social media platforms, with 20% of the participants encountering online bullying daily. TikTok was specifically highlighted as a platform where cyberbullying is common.