The information on this page is designed to help parents and carers understand the aims of the Digital Discourse Initiative, including how it supports children and young people to engage critically with online information and develop digital resilience.
Digital Discourse Initiative
The Digital Discourse Initiative supports schools to help children and young people navigate an increasingly complex online world.
What is the Digital Discourse Initiative?
It is an education programme that we developed in collaboration with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). It helps schools to equip children and young people with the knowledge and skills to navigate online environments safely and critically.
The programme supports learners to understand how online information is created and shared, recognise online hate and disinformation, think critically about the content that they encounter, and engage with others respectfully online.
Through professional learning for teachers, learner workshops and curriculum resources, the Digital Discourse Initiative helps schools to build critical media literacy and digital resilience through teaching and learning.
What will my child be learning?
Schools participating in the Digital Discourse Initiative will typically begin by providing professional learning for teachers and school staff. This equips them with the knowledge and confidence to help children and young people navigate an increasingly complex online environment.
As part of this, teachers may incorporate learning about critical media literacy across the curriculum. Depending on their age and stage, learners may explore topics such as how online information is created and shared, how to recognise misinformation and disinformation, how to fact-check information, how algorithms and social media can influence what we see online, how to recognise online prejudice and hate, and how to engage safely and respectfully in digital spaces.
Many schools also choose to participate in our Digital Discourse Initiative learner workshops for primary and secondary learners.
These interactive sessions are delivered in the classroom and help children and young people develop the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and digital resilience needed to recognise and respond to online hate, disinformation, and other harmful online content.
Why is this necessary?
The Digital Discourse Initiative helps learners develop the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions, question the reliability of online information, recognise harmful content, and participate safely and responsibly in online environments.
These skills are increasingly important as children and young people spend more time online for learning, communication, socialising, leisure, and entertainment.
The online environment is becoming more complex, with disinformation and increasingly polarising content reaching children and young people through mainstream social media and gaming platforms.
Research from Ofcom, UNICEF, and the OECD emphasises the importance of equipping learners with essential critical thinking and media literacy skills to navigate these issues.
What about the proposed social media ban for under 16s?
The Digital Discourse Initiative remains important regardless of future changes to children and young people’s access to social media.
Children and young people already use a wide range of digital technologies for learning, communication, gaming, and entertainment. They also encounter online information through search engines, messaging services, video platforms, artificial intelligence tools and other digital spaces, not only through social media.
Developing critical media literacy and digital resilience helps learners understand how to assess the reliability of online information, recognise harmful content, and engage safely and respectfully online. These are lifelong skills that remain valuable regardless of which platforms young people use or what age restrictions may be introduced.
Schools have an important role in preparing children and young people to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. The Digital Discourse Initiative complements the work of parents and carers by helping learners develop the critical thinking skills they need to participate confidently in an increasingly digital society.
I am worried about my child's online activity, what can I do?
If you are concerned about your child’s online activity, the first step is to have an open conversation about their experiences online.
Encourage them to talk about the websites, apps, games, forums, and social media platforms they use and who they interact with online. Remind them that they can come to you if they encounter anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or worried.
You can also review the privacy and parental control settings on the devices and platforms that they use, and agree boundaries around screen time and online activity. Taking an interest in your child’s digital life can help you identify potential concerns early and support them to develop safe online habits.
If you believe your child is experiencing online bullying, abuse, grooming, exploitation – or if they have encountered harmful or illegal content – support is available. Depending on the nature of your concern, you may wish to contact:
- Your child’s school, who can provide pastoral support and respond to concerns.
- CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) if you are concerned about online sexual abuse or grooming.
- Childline offers free, confidential support for children and young people.
- NSPCC provides advice and guidance for parents and carers about online safety.
- Police Scotland if there is an immediate risk to a child or criminal activity has taken place. In an emergency, always call 999.
Is there any guidance for parents and carers about online activity?
Yes. There are a range of trusted organisations that provide free advice and guidance to help parents and carers support children and young people online. These include practical information about online safety, screen time, privacy settings, online bullying, online hate, and having open conversations about what children may be encountering online.
- Parent Club (Scottish Government) provides guidance on screen time for school-aged children and young people, along with advice on online safety and online bullying. Parent Club also offers dedicated guidance on topics including talking about online misogyny, disinformation, and extreme online content, with practical tips for having constructive and supportive conversations with your child.
- Internet Matters offers advice for parents and carers on social media, gaming, parental controls, online reputation, and keeping children safe online, tailored to the age of your child. They also provide guides and information about specific platforms that are popular with children and young people.
- UK Safer Internet Centre provides practical guides, conversation starters, advice on devices and apps, and information about privacy settings and reporting tools for parents and carers to help keep your child safe online.
How can I help my child's school take part in this programme?
If your child’s school is not already participating in the Digital Discourse Initiative, you can encourage them to find out more about the programme and the services that we provide.
Schools can begin by accessing our Digital Discourse Initiative professional learning, which equips teachers and school staff with the knowledge and skills they need to teach critical media literacy and digital resilience skills, and also provides essential child protection information.
Schools can also book our Digital Discourse Initiative learner workshops for primary and secondary learners, which help children and young people develop the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and digital resilience they need to recognise disinformation and online hate.
If you would like to recommend the programme to your child’s school, you could encourage a member of staff or senior leader to contact us via services@tie.scot