During the Third National Media and Information Literacy Forum the Media Literacy Coalition presented the Appeal: Media literacy as a national priority:

To:
The political parties in Bulgaria
The Council of Ministers
The National Assembly and the relevant parliamentary committees on education, culture, media and digitalization

Why is media literacy vital?

Media literacy in the digital age

Media literacy encompasses all key skills for navigating the modern information environment – ??critical thinking, fact-checking skills, understanding media processes, responsible content creation and sharing, digital and online security. By media literacy we mean the full range of competencies needed by citizens to be active participants in the public sphere, informed and resilient to fraud in the digital age.

Benefits for citizens and society:

• For children and young people – development of critical thinking, argumentation and independent judgment skills; protection from online risks and manipulations.

• For the elderly – overcoming digital inequalities, protection from fraud and inclusion in active social life.

• For employees – increasing digital and communication competence, directly related to competitiveness in the labor market.

• For all – more informed citizens, able to participate fully in debates, demand accountability and defend common values.

The challenges:

Bulgaria ranks last in the EU in the Media Literacy Index (2023), with 31/100 points. The results of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2025 also show that Bulgaria remains among the countries with the lowest digital skills in the EU:

• Only 35.5 % of Bulgarian citizens have basic digital skills – far below the EU average.

• Only under 10% possess advanced digital skills – an indicator that places Bulgaria and Romania in last place.

• Among older people (55–74 years old), the situation is even more worrying – less than 20% have basic digital skills, and our progress towards 2022 is negative.

This means that a large portion of our citizens lack the necessary skills to distinguish facts from opinions, to identify disinformation narratives and all forms of information manipulation, to recognize online fraud, or to use digital technologies critically and responsibly. 

The problem is getting worse:

• Our children spend more and more time on social networks, where they are exposed to misleading information, online bullying, and risky content on a daily basis.

• Artificial intelligence is now part of everyday life – from the algorithms that determine what we see online to generative tools that can create convincing but false materials.

• Older people, who are often new to social media, are among the most vulnerable to fraud, manipulation, and misinformation, and remain a prime target for online scammers.

These are not distant or theoretical problems. They actually affect the health of society, the sustainability of democracy, and influence the way we make decisions.

Bulgaria's European and international commitments:

Media literacy is listed as a priority in a number of European Union documents. The Council of the EU recommended in 2008 that Member States develop systematic policies in this area. In 2018, it was included among the key competences for lifelong learning, and in 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on media literacy in an ever-changing world.

UNESCO also emphasizes that media and information literacy is fundamental to human rights, democracy and sustainable development. In 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on states to take action in this area.

The ambition for membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development also requires adherence to high standards of democratic governance, which include the protection of the information environment. The OECD Recommendation on Information Integrity, adopted in December 2024 (OECD/LEGAL/0505), highlights media literacy as one of the main pillars for building the resilience of societies against disinformation. 

The recommendation emphasizes the need for systemic policies that include integrating media literacy into formal educational programs at all levels, providing training and resources for educators so that they can effectively develop these skills in students, and supporting lifelong learning initiatives aimed at all age groups, not just learners . 

For Bulgaria, joining this framework means making a commitment to develop and implement a coordinated national media literacy strategy, supported by adequate resources and in line with best practices in OECD countries.

As a member of the Council of Europe and the United Nations, Bulgaria shares the responsibility to protect media freedom and democratic processes, which are directly threatened by the spread of false information. These commitments are particularly important given the data that shows Bulgaria to be one of the most vulnerable countries in the EU to foreign influence and disinformation campaigns.

Bulgaria cannot remain aloof from these processes. If we want to fulfill our European and international commitments, building media literacy must become a shared responsibility – of the institutions, which must place it among national priorities, and of society, which must actively participate in this process.

What is needed to develop media literacy?

Media literacy is already present in secondary education curricula through topics related to critical thinking, digital safety and information management. However, its implementation remains uneven and unsystematic – it depends on the motivation and preparation of individual teachers, and there is a lack of sustainable resources and coordination between institutions. In higher education, the topic is mainly addressed in specialized programs such as journalism and communications, but there is still no national policy to guarantee the development of media literacy at all educational levels and for all age groups.

What is needed: 

1. Legislative changes in the field of education – establishing media literacy as a key competence and integrated development of related skills in all subjects, with subsequent follow-up through national assessments to monitor the progress of the measures taken.
2. Teacher training – a competency-based approach to teacher development and qualifications that meet real needs, as well as access to quality resources.
3. Lifelong learning for adults – digital orientation and fraud protection programs.
4. Cross-sectoral approach and partnerships – engaging schools, media, NGOs, libraries, cultural institutions and businesses.
5. Long-term strategies and resources – national strategy, multi-annual plans and sustainable funding, including through EU programs.

Conclusion

Media literacy is not just an educational issue, but a matter of national security, democracy and social sustainability . Bulgaria cannot afford to fall behind. Every day we delay action, we lose trust, belittle the truth and gamble our future.

Therefore, we appeal:

• Political parties should make media literacy a priority in their programs.

• The National Assembly should take specific legislative steps.

• The government should develop and implement a long-term strategy with clear goals, indicators, and sustainable funding.

Only in this way will we be able to provide children, adults, and the entire society with the skills necessary for life in a complex, digital, and changing world.

About us: 

The Media Literacy Coalition brings together organizations in the fields of education, journalism and civic engagement, academics and media literacy experts.

The coalition works to fully integrate media literacy into the educational process and increase media literacy in society.

The goal is to develop critical thinking and creative abilities, first and foremost, of children and young people in the digital media world, of all other age groups in Bulgaria, and with a special focus on seniors 65+.

You can read the entire appeal and sign it on the Media Literacy Coalition website