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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

Spain´s commitment to media literacy is anchored in its educational legislation. The Organic Law of Education 2/2006 (Ley Orgánica de Educación 2/2006, LOE), laid the foundation by integrating media literacy into the curriculum and defining it as a basic competency.

Subsequently, the Organic Law for the Improvement of Educational Quality (Ley Orgánica 8/2013 para la Mejora de la Calidad Educativa, LOMCE) emphasized the significance of ICT in transforming the educational system, highlighting the need for critical and autonomous individuals in a digital society.

The latest reform, the Organic Law of Education 3/2020 (Ley Orgánica 3/2020, de 29 de diciembre, por la que se modifica la Ley Orgánica 2/2006, de 3 de mayo, de Educación, known as “LOMLOE”), further reinforces the role of ICT , especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the importance of digital tools in education. In response, the “Educa en digital” Programme was launched in 2020, aiming to support the digital transformation of formal education in Spain. 

This initiative, co-financed by Red.es, Autonomous Communities, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), mobilized €260 million to provide devices, digital resources, teacher training, and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for personalized education.

Building upon this, the Digital School Plan (Plan Digital de Centro) was introduced to guide schools in integrating digital technologies effectively. This plan serves as a strategic framework for schools to develop their digital culture, ensuring that digital tools enhance teaching and learning processes.

To support educators, the Framework for Teaching Digital Competence (Marco de Referencia de la Competencia Digital Docente) was updated in 2022. This framework outlines the digital competencies required by teachers, structured into six areas and 23 competencies across six proficiency levels, facilitating targeted professional development.

Additionally, the Multiple Literacies Project (Proyecto Alfabetizaciones Múltiples) emphasizes the development of various literacies - visual, digital, informational, and media -to enable students to participate fully in today's society.

Media literacy and online safety through formal education

The National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (INTEF), in collaboration with the Autonomous Communities, has been instrumental in promoting digital culture in schools. Through initiatives like the Digital School Plan (Plan Digital de Centro) and the updates Framework for Teaching Digital Competence, provides resources and training to ensure that educators are equipped to foster digital literacy among students.

Moreover, regional platforms such as EducaMadrid offer technological tools and resources to support media literacy education.  Public-private collaborations initiatives such as the EducaInternet platform further enhance these efforts by providing educational material to students and teachers on safe and responsible use of digital technologies..

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

Beyond formal education, various programs aim to enhance digital competencies among different population groups.:

• The Activate Programme (Programa Actívate), a joint initiative by Google and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo) offers free online courses in digital sills promoting employability and entrepreneurship among young people.
• The IS4K Safe Internet for Kids Centre (Centro IS4K. Internet segura for kids), coordinated by the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), focuses on promoting safe and responsible use of the internet among children and adolescents. It provides resources, awareness campaigns, and a helpline to address online safety concerns.
• The You Decide on the Internet (Tú decides en Internet) project by the Spanish Agency for Data Protection offers educational materials to help young people, parents, and teachers understand the importance of protecting personal data online.
• The Screen Friends (PantallasAmigas) initiative promotes the safe and healthy use of new technologies among children and adolescents, fostering responsible digital citizenship through educational activities and awareness campaigns

Raising awareness about the risks posed by new media

Efforts to raise awareness about online risks include programs like:

• The Chaval.es Programme: provides  educational and entertainment content to inform young people and their parents of digital dangers. including cyberbullying , online grooming and hate crimes.
• The Laguntza programme (Programa Laguntza programa contra el acoso y ciberacoso) in Navarre: Preventing school bullying and cyberbullying through socio-emotional education, offering tools and training to the educational community.
• MyBullying: An innovative tool developed by the Complutense University of Madrid to assist in the detention of bullying cases.
• Proof of Concept Project (Proyecto I+D+i “Prueba de Concepto”): Research project funded under the State R&D&I Programme, delves into understanding and preventing bullying and cyberbullying.

Organisations like the Spanish Association for the Prevention of School Harassment (Asociación Española Ptevención Acoso Escolar, AEPAE) contribute by providing protocols, incident tests and tools to address bullying including cyberbullying, alongside organising events like the School Harassment Days to promote awareness and prevention strategies.