The new media‑education content will not function as a separate subject. Teachers will incorporate it into Polish language, computer science, geography, civic education and practical‑technical classes.
According to the Ministry of National Education, students will learn to verify facts, distinguish them from opinions and recognize manipulation and disinformation online. They will also learn to safely search for information, assess source credibility and responsibly create and publish digital content.
At a press conference on Thursday, Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said the reform responds to challenges linked to children’s and teenagers’ daily functioning in the digital environment.
“We want young people to distinguish truth from falsehood and identify the source of information. Fake news and disinformation are part of everyday life. Each of us, when reading an article or viewing a photo, should pause and consider where the information comes from, who provides it and whether it is true,” she said.
The scale of internet use among young children is illustrated by the "Children’s Internet 2026" report, published in June by the Institute for Digital Citizenship. It shows that around 2.6 million children aged 7–14 use the internet in Poland, spending an average of 4 hours and 25 minutes online per day — one hour more than the national average.
The report states that children spend 40% of their online time on social media, despite these platforms being intended for users aged 13 and over. It also shows widespread use of modern technologies: 43% of children use ChatGPT, and 23% use AI‑based video‑editing tools.
Researchers noted that two‑thirds of children’s online time is spent on social media and YouTube, exposing them to low‑quality, AI‑generated content known as “AI slop.” Educational websites account for only 1% of their online activity.
For students in grades 4–8 and secondary schools, the National Centre for Film Culture in Łódź has developed a nationwide media‑education and counter‑disinformation program, “What the FEJK.” Under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, it will launch on September 17. Its aim is to equip teenagers with tools to independently assess message credibility: verify authorship and sources, analyze context, access primary materials, compare information and consciously use new technologies.
A Eurobarometer study titled "The Impact of Excessive Time Spent in Front of Screens and on Social Media on the Mental Health of Young People", conducted in March and April 2026, shows that teenagers aged 13–18 in EU countries spend an average of 4.5 hours a day in front of screens on school days and 6.1 hours on weekends. More than 40% consider this excessive.
According to the study, young people in Poland encounter manipulated content more often than their peers across the EU. Forty‑three percent of Polish teenagers reported seeing difficult‑to‑verify AI‑generated materials, compared with the EU average of 39%.
Additionally, 42% encountered false information (EU average: 35%), and 31% experienced hate speech — six percentage points above the EU average.
When asked what could improve young people’s mental well‑being online, Polish teenagers most often pointed to better access to psychological support (49%), youth‑oriented social campaigns (42%) and greater parental education (38%). Additional school classes ranked last at 36%, well below the EU average of 44%.
Parents also highlight concerns about online safety, according to another Eurobarometer survey, "Safer Internet and Freedom of Speech", conducted in June 2026. Polish adults most frequently cited risks of child grooming or sexual abuse (73%), cyberbullying (73%) and exposure to harmful content (71%).
(pu)
Source: PAP