8 months ago
UK Minister Links Reading Decline to National Security
A UK minister says that fewer children are reading for fun, and this is a big problem.
She thinks it makes kids more likely to believe false information from bad actors like Russia.
The minister wants to make 2026 a special year to get kids reading more.
She says reading helps kids think critically and tell the difference between real news and fake news.
A survey showed that only 33% of kids over 8 enjoy reading now, which is less than before.
The minister and the spy chief both think this is important for keeping the country safe.
British Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson warns that declining reading habits among children pose a national security threat.
Only 33% of British children over 8 enjoy reading in their free time, down from 51% in 2005.
The government has declared 2026 as the National Year of Reading to revive reading habits.
MI6 Chief Blaise Metreweli warns that disinformation campaigns exploit poor reading skills.
The National Literacy Trust survey revealed that enjoyment levels dropped for all children regardless of background, with only 25% of boys enjoying reading.
- Who
- British Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and MI6 Chief Blaise Metreweli
- What
- The decline in reading habits among children is linked to national security threats
- Where
- United Kingdom
- When
- The warning was issued in 2025, with 2026 declared as the National Year of Reading
- Why
- To combat disinformation campaigns and foster critical thinking skills
Key facts
- Percentage of British children over 8 who enjoy reading in 2025
- 33%
- Percentage of British children over 8 who enjoyed reading in 2005
- 51%
- Percentage of boys who enjoy reading in 2025
- 25%
- Year declared as National Year of Reading
- 2026
- UK Education Secretary
- Bridget Phillipson
- MI6 Chief
- Blaise Metreweli
Quotes
Bridget Phillipson
British Education Secretary
“As we’ve heard in recent months, and in December from the new head of MI6, the threat from Russia and other foreign state actors is growing. And a dark new frontier is the disinformation spreading across social media and the wider internet. These threats are more sophisticated than ever, with higher production values designed to appear like legitimate news sources.”
firstpost.com
“To respond, we need a generation of critical thinkers. We need a generation of problem solvers, equipped to dissect what lands in front of them, to value the truth and to reject the easy temptations of the online world. In short, we need a generation of readers.”
firstpost.com
