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EACEA National Policies Platform
Iceland

Iceland

6. Education and Training

6.8 Media literacy and safe use of new media

Last update: 28 November 2023
On this page
  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

No national strategy on media literacy or the safe use of media exists.

 

Media literacy and online safety through formal education

Media literacy and competence to use new media is discussed in the National Curriculum for Compulsory Schools and in the National Curriculum for Upper Secondary Schools. Chapter 18 in the National Curriculum for Compulsory Schools denotes a competence framework regarding the usage of media and information where, at the completion of grade 10, students should "[s]how responsibility in private communication on the net and in web media. It is, however, not discussed in a strategic manner and schools are given full autonomy in terms of how they implement this.

 

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

The Media Committee (Fjölmiðlanefnd) (website only available in Icelandic) is funded by top-level authorities. The committee’s main purpose is to ensure that the media sector operates according to law. One particular responsibility is the protection of children in the media environment, i.e. protection from potentially harmful material to increased media literacy. In 2015, the Media Committee, in co-operation with SAFT (Society, Family and Technology) and Home and School (the National Parents Association in Iceland), published educational material for parents and children on internet security and media literacy (the material is only available in Icelandic).

 

Raising awareness about the risks posed by new media

SAFT (Society, Family and Technology) is an organization run by Home and School (the National Parents association in Iceland). Its main objective is to educate parents and children on internet safety and safe use of new media. Furthermore, the organization seeks to educate and counteract cyber-bullying. The organization publishes bi-annual public reports with information about their operation as well as their international co-operation. The latest report is for the years 2012 – 2014. In addition, the organization conducts surveys for parents and children.