Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson warned that the decline in reading among children could jeopardize national security, as it makes them more susceptible to Russian disinformation. She highlighted the necessity for the UK to cultivate a “generation of critical thinkers” equipped to identify and reject misleading information masquerading as legitimate news. Ms. Phillipson emphasized that a decrease in literacy and reading comprehension could leave children more vulnerable to sophisticated online threats from hostile state actors.
In her Telegraph article, she argued that the proliferation of disinformation on social media necessitates enhanced critical thinking skills among youth. To address this issue, her department is collaborating with the National Literacy Trust to declare 2026 the national year of reading, aiming to reverse a troubling trend where only one-third of kids now find joy in reading, down from half two decades ago.
Despite plans for a Year 8 reading test, she faced criticism from teaching unions, which contend that further mandatory testing isn’t a solution to the problem. The ongoing threat of disinformation poses challenges not only to individuals but also to societal trust and government institutions, according to MI6’s new chief, who stressed the importance of adapting to technological proficiency in countering these threats.
