Preparing young voters in today’s online information environment

On this page

• Why this briefing matters
• Research methodology
• Summary of briefing
• Our recommendations
• Read the full brief
• Reflections from policymakers, experts and young people
• Supporting resources

Why this briefing matters

Through the Elections Bill, the UK Government intend to extend the right to vote to all 16- and 17-year-olds in UK elections. This reform aims to engage young voters early, helping to build the foundations for lifelong democratic participation and to ensure young people feel represented in politics.

Whilst lowering the voting age marks a significant moment to strengthen democratic participation, our research suggests this is not a guarantee. Young people must be empowered and equipped with the skills and knowledge to engage with the news, politics and current affairs they encounter online.

This briefing was written in joint collaboration with Full Fact, an independent fact-checking organisation.

Research methodology

This briefing draws on November 2025 data from Internet Matters Pulse. The findings are based on a survey of 573 children aged 13-17 and 801 parents of children aged 13-17 based in the UK.

Previous Internet Matters’ research on children’s news consumption supplemented the analysis within this briefing.

Summary of briefing

Our recommendations

1. Schools should deliver media and digital literacy across the curriculum through clear guidance, resources and training.
2. The government should establish a clear and coordinated national approach to media literacy.
3. The Government must commit to sustained funding to deliver media literacy education outside of schools, such as for the Electoral Commission to deliver public information campaigns on e.g. misinformation.
4. Social media companies must support users’ media literacy on platforms such as labelling AI-generated content and building in features which help users evaluate, question and contextualise information.

Read the full brief

Preparing young voters in today’s online information environment

This joint briefing with Full Fact examines young people’s digital literacy and trust in politics.

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Reflections from policymakers, experts and young people

Stella, a student aged 14 told Internet Matters: “I think it’s important for children and young people to be taught how to navigate the information they see online from a young age, so they can feel confident forming their own views about politics and voting. The earlier this support starts, the better prepared young people will be to take part.”

Emily Darlington MP, Member of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee said: “We have seen from the Committee’s inquiry into the 2024 summer riots just how damaging misinformation can be for our democracy. This research shows that a majority of kids agree, and that they’re worried about how safe our democracy is in this new age of AI and mis/ disinformation. If the next generation of voters don’t have confidence in our democracy, we have a responsibility to act before it’s too late. Online platforms must be participants in the fight to protect trust in our democratic processes, rather than undermine it.”

Kirsty Blackman MP, Co-Chair of the APPG on Political and Media Literacy said: “These findings underline what members of the APPG have long argued: extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year-olds must come with a whole of society commitment to equipping young people to navigate the digital information environment they already inhabit. When 6 in 10 young people are concerned about the potential for misinformation and AI-generated content affecting election, protecting our democracy means embedding political and media literacy education in the National Curriculum, supporting teachers to deliver it, and holding tech platforms to account through media literacy by design.”

Matteo Bergamini MBE, Founder and CEO of Shout Out UK said: “These survey results show us that if extending the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds is to result in meaningful democratic participation, rather than widespread disengagement, we must develop a coordinated, national approach to Political and Media literacy equipping parents, teachers and young people with the skills and understanding which foster informed civic engagement.”