In a world saturated with digital information and targeted disinformation campaigns, Finland has adopted a strikingly proactive defence: teaching critical media literacy skills to children as young as three years old. This nationwide educational strategy is widely viewed as a vital shield, particularly against pervasive Russian propaganda.
A Foundation Built in Preschool
The Finnish approach integrates media literacy seamlessly into early childhood education and formal schooling. Rather than treating it as a standalone subject, educators weave lessons on evaluating sources, understanding intent, and recognizing manipulation into everyday learning. The goal is to build what experts call "digital resilience" from the ground up.
On December 9, 2025, at Tapanila Primary School in Tapanila, Finland, ten-year-old fourth-grader Ilo Lindgren could be seen actively engaged in such a media literacy class. The scene, captured by Associated Press photographer James Brooks, illustrates the practical, hands-on nature of this instruction. Students don't just learn theory; they practice dissecting advertisements, social media posts, and news stories.
Countering the Threat of Foreign Disinformation
Finland's strategy is not born in a vacuum. Sharing a long border with Russia, the country has been a prime target for Kremlin-linked disinformation campaigns aimed at sowing societal discord and undermining trust in institutions. Finnish officials and educators recognize that in the digital age, national security extends into the information realm.
By equipping citizens with critical thinking tools from their earliest years, Finland aims to inoculate its population against false narratives. The logic is straightforward: if children learn to question, verify, and understand the motives behind media messages early on, they become far less susceptible to manipulation as adults. This long-term investment is considered a cornerstone of modern civic defence.
A Model for the Digital World
The Finnish model has garnered international attention as democracies worldwide grapple with the corrosive effects of online misinformation and foreign interference. Starting education at the preschool level acknowledges that media consumption begins early, with children often encountering tablets and smartphones before they can even read.
Media literacy in Finland is treated as a fundamental skill, akin to reading or mathematics. The curriculum evolves with age, starting with simple concepts like distinguishing between cartoons and reality for toddlers, progressing to more complex analysis of bias and logical fallacies for teenagers. This comprehensive framework ensures that by the time students graduate, they are not just consumers of information, but critical and discerning participants in the digital public square.
As nations like Canada consider their own strategies to bolster democratic resilience, Finland's early-start, integrated approach to media literacy offers a compelling and proven blueprint for building a society that can defend itself from within, starting with its youngest minds.
