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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 Hungary, currently, there is no explicit strategy addressing media literacy and the safe use of new media among young people but there are several strategies where youth appear as specific target group in this topic.

The National Digitalisation Strategy 2022–2030

The Ministry for Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Interior prepared the National Digitalisation Strategy 2022–2030 (Nemzeti Digitalizációs Stratégia 2022–2030) as a frame strategy of different digital strategies, initiatives, and documents. The four main aims of the strategy focus on the Hungarian citizens in general, but some of them include developments related also to youth such as digital infrastructure development (also includes the digital infrastructure development of schools and digital development of higher education institutions, research networks and public collections) and digital competencies development (includes supporting the structural change in education for the development of digital competencies). Furthermore, the aim of digital economy and digital state also concern youth.

To implement the strategy, the government has launched the Digital Renewal Operational Programme Plus (Digitális Megújulás Operatív Program Plusz). The programme is jointly financed by EU and state resources. Several applications are available under the programme that relate to the development of young people's digital skills (for more information see 8.7).

The Public Education Strategy 2021–2030

The Hungarian Government adopted the Public Education Strategy 2021–2030 (Köznevelési stratégia 2021–2030) in 2021. One aim of the strategy relates to 'Public education which reflects the challenges of the 21^st century'. As a part of this aim the goal is to support the digital culture and safe Internet usage of the students and teachers and to provide methodological and technical support.

As the Strategy states,

'the digital competencies go beyond using the digital devices: the safe and responsible use of new media and using the possibilities of it are important for stepping to the labour market and for everyday life.'

The Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030

In 2025, the government has published the Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030 (Magyarország Mesterséges Intelligencia Stratégiája 2025–2030) that aims to reflect to the experiences of the previous strategy and to the fast changes of technology. The target group of the document is the whole population, but youth is also targeted through the aim of disseminating knowledge about the safe and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and developing AI literacy and critical thinking.

Another key objective is to prepare parents and teachers to protect children and to ensure the proper use of technology. All of this is implemented in cooperation with the formal and non-formal education system and professional organisations, while strengthening the concept of lifelong learning.

The responsible government commissioner for the strategy is the Minister of Artificial Intelligence but several ministries and other organisations participate in the implementation. The Ministry of Culture and Innovation (Kulturális és Innovációs Minisztérium), the Ministry of Interior (Belügyminisztérium), the Educational Authority, the National Youth Council (Nemzeti Ifjúsági Tanács), the Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Students, the Hungarian Rectors' Conference, and the National Organisation of Student Self-governing Bodies (Hallgatói Önkormányzatok Országos Konferenciája) also contributes to reach the goals concerning education and competency-development (for more information on these organisations, see 5.3 and 6.2).

Media literacy and online safety through formal education

With regard to media literacy and online security, the current National Core Curriculum (Nemzeti Alaptanterv) contains elements by subjects.

Media literacy

The topic is covered by the students in the subject of Motion Picture Culture and Media Literacy. The aim of the course is

'to acquire basic media literacy, especially to develop cinematic comprehension, to explore the media's social role and mode of operation. The teaching of the course is strongly related to digital culture, Hungarian language and literature, and the arts.'

Online safety

The topic is covered in the Digital Culture course.

'The course aims to transfer and develop up-to-date knowledge and skills that will make the learner a successful and useful member of the information society. Algorithmization and coding (…), problem-solving in a digital environment, creativity, cooperation and logical thinking play an important role in the course. (…) An important task of the course is to enable the student to solve the problems with the tools of the digital environment.' 

Media literacy on Artificial Intelligence

The Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030 (Magyarország Mesterséges Intelligencia Stratégiája 2025–2030) sets actions for public education, vocational training and also for higher education.

One action is the establishment of an AI Innovation Centre that operates in the fields of dissemination, awareness-raising, event organisation, and social dialogue, and that collects and communicates new profession-specific training needs to the education system.

Other activities include launching programmes in public education and vocational training that support students in becoming users of AI technologies, including horizontal and modular AI content, robot collaboration, 'quick guide' programmes, student competitions, and career orientation grants. Further actions include providing training programmes for teachers in public education and instructors in vocational training, as well as rewarding educators who use and experiment with AI.

According to the strategy it is also necessary to continue the Digital Device Provision Program (for more information see 6.6) and to support the development of AI-based educational content. Within it, they plan to provide resources and support for the development and integration of AI-assisted educational content and smart textbooks across the entire spectrum of public education. Another goal is to develop the Digital Culture subject so that students can acquire up-to-date knowledge of the latest digital technologies, including artificial intelligence.

In higher education, an important aim is the development of general AI-related knowledge, skills, and competencies in higher education among students, higher education staff, and local economic and social stakeholders. Furthermore, it is essential to prepare future teachers in higher education for AI-related tasks in public education, vocational training, and adult education.

Media literacy on Artificial Intelligence in schools

In public education, the subject of Digital Culture offers the opportunity to introduce AI and other digital applications to the entire student population. Following the emergence of the ChatGPT artificial intelligence model, its content was included in textbooks, enabling students to become familiar with this technology as early as primary and secondary education. As a result, it is not necessary to wait until the level of higher education to acquire this type of knowledge.

Furthermore, the Xeropan (it is a language learning app) platform, which is already operating within the Public Education Registration and Study Core System (KRÉTA), is a good example of the successful integration of AI in education. The aim is to foster students to use AI during the learning process, and it facilitates a conscious and effective use later.

At the end of 2025, the government launched a pilot project in 60 vocational schools where students receive education on Artificial Intelligence (AI). They provided training for teachers and about 1 700 students are involved. The aim was to prepare students with practical knowledge on the safe use of AI and to provide them competitive knowledge for the labour market. After the successful pilot project, the government plans to make the AI subject compulsory in vocational schools.

Televele Media Education Association

The Televele Media Education Association (Televele Médiapegagóiai Műhely Egyesület) was established in 2009 by teachers and psychologist with the aim of improving media literacy of youth. They completed projects in schools related to media literacy and they have available materials for teachers on online safety, cyberbullying, critical thinking about media, fake news, social media usage. The target group is mainly 10–18-year-old students. The Association organised training sessions for parents and teachers on media education and on media usage of young people and they are continuously available for keeping trainings.

Teachers' training

The Accreditation Department of the Educational Authority organises several training sessions for educators in teacher's training in the field of online safety such as:

• 'Digital Signpost to Teachers - internet safety in schools' ('Digitális útjelzők pedagógusoknak - internetbiztonság az iskolában'),
• 'Online against the cyberbullying' ('Online az online bántalmazás ellen'),
• 'InfoGrund in the digital world – development of media consciousness in school environment' ('InfoGrund a digitális világban - a tudatos információfogyasztás fejlesztése iskolai környezetben').

The Public Education Strategy 2021–2030 (Köznevelési stratégia 2021–2030) highlights that the development of the digital competencies of the teachers is important and in the future, the training of the teachers has to be more intensive and more targeted. That means the emphasis to acquire the knowledge of the digital methodologies and tools that could be applied already in the kindergartens and related to certain school subjects.

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

Hungary is seeking to raise awareness of the importance of media literacy and the importance of online security in non-formal and informal learning. As an example, the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (Nemzeti Média-és Hírközlési Hatóság) established the Magic Valley media education training centre (Bűvösvölgy médiaértés-oktató központot).

It aims to support the development of media awareness among 9–16-year-old young people. The first centre was opened in 2014 (according to the information provided by the Ministry, it was funded from the budget of the project [HUF 500 million (about EUR 1.3 million)] in Budapest, and another was opened in Debrecen in 2017 [according to the information provided by the Ministry, it was funded by HUF 295 million (about EUR 756 000)]. In 2020, one more centre was opened in Sopron ('Bűvösvölgy Sopron').

Digital Consciousness and Youth Protection Centre

According to Ministry information, in December 2024, the National Youth Council (Nemzeti Ifjúsági Tanács) established the Digital Consciousness and Youth Protection Centre. The centre promotes media literacy among young people, enhances online safety, and raises awareness of responsible online behaviour. The main tasks of the centre are to develop the digital skills of young people, including higher education students; promote online safety, raise awareness of mental health and online behaviour, and encourage the responsible use of social media. The centre had educational activities nationwide in 2025, such as lectures, conferences, and workshops. They reached out to more than 1 500 young people, teachers and professionals.

They also established a network of experts including professionals actively engaged in digitalisation in Hungary, digital child and youth protection, media awareness, artificial intelligence, and the mental health of young people. The network of experts also provides professional support on digital awareness topics to the Deputy State Secretariat for Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Innovation. This activity includes preparing responses to professional requests, proposing recommendations, and producing background materials primarily for the ministry and for other government bodies. They are planning to launch a website and promoting it will be a key priority in 2026.

Raising awareness about the risks posed by new media

The National Media and Infocommunications Authority plays an important role in raising awareness of the risks of using new media. They launch several activities and campaigns and provide guidance to draw attention to that topic.

Safer Internet Day activities

Every year, the National Media and Infocommunications Authority organizes events, programmes, and public campaigns to raise awareness of the risks of the media, not only among young people, but also among their parents and teachers. On Safer Internet Day, the Authority always launches a campaign to raise awareness of the safe and conscious use of the Internet among young people and their parents.

In 2026, they launched a campaign to reduce screen time of children and youth and to strengthen their social relationships instead. They created a website, called 'Screen time reducing' to raise awareness of the risks of spending too much time in front of screens. They provide a 'Ten-Point Professional Charter' ('10 pontos Szakértői Charta') that can support parents with concrete actions in reducing the screen time of their children. In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, the Bethesda Hospital, the National Youth Council for Youth Nonprofit Ltd., and EduTech, they collect nationwide best practices through a questionnaire and plan to publish a 100+1-point list from it.

In 2022, they launched a campaign called 'Red Flag' ('Red Flag' kampány), which aimed to raise children's awareness so they recognise the signs of someone who is violent, manipulative or aggressive in online communication and who wants an intimate photo of them. They emphasise that the child should not feel compelled to share intimate photos online if they think something is wrong. If it happens anyway, they can use the Authority's website to report the problem, the Internet Hotline. The websites have been continuously operating since 2022.

Guidelines of the Authority

The Authority has published several guidelines relating to the risks of new media. The topics include online video games and cyberbullying. The 'Guidance to gamer kids' ('Kézikönyv gamer gyerekekhez') contains information on what and how much to let the children play, how to avoid financial traps, and about streamers. 

Another guide, called 'Is the child ok, when he/she plays?' ('Jól van a gyerek, ha játszik?'), is published in 2023, which is a repository on video games that describes the 'players' and their motivations, and also provides information about the games, how they work, the logic behind them and their effects. It contains practical advice on how to help children avoid addiction and also emphasises how children can use online games to develop their skills.

The Authority also published a 2023 leaflet on cyberbullying, titled 'It is not cool to hurt others' ('Mást bántani nem menő'). The aim was to sensitise young people to the issue of cyberbullying among their peers. Information on various support services is also available. The leaflet gives advice on how to stop and avoid cyberbullying.

The Authority also operates a website called Digipedia that provides information related to the online word both for parents and youth. Many articles are available on digital child protection, on online security issues, on digital finances, on data protection and on digital innovation.

Large-scale campaigns for conscious mobile usage

The National Media and Infocommunications Authority launched a programme in 2023 called 'Mobile is my family?' ('A mobil a családom?'). The aim is to draw attention to the excessive use of mobile devices in families. The website of this initiative provides advice for families on how to reduce time spent on mobile devices and create a healthy, conscious environment for mobile use within the family. It also mentions the topics mentioned above and lists the guidance. They also organise presentations and performances in bigger cities to call attention to that topic. In 2025, they held their last performance, and the programme was closed, though the website remains accessible.

The Authority created another website in 2025, called 'Launch the family action plan!' ('Élesítsd a családi akciótervet!') where they provide information and a house rules template for controlling the smart device usage in the family. Parents can set the rules together with their children on how much time they can spend with devices (also relates to parents) and what content they can use.