Teaching children and young people to interpret the world critically and as responsible citizens—both on and off screen—is an increasingly urgent challenge. In this context, media education in schools emerges as an essential means of fostering critical thinking, preparing students to navigate the vast amount of information circulating in the digital age.

In late February, the National Education Council (CNE) approved new operational guidelines on the use of digital devices in schools and the integration of Digital and Media Education into the curriculum, with specific guidance to support school systems in implementing these practices at all educational levels (from early childhood education through high school).

“In this age of digital education, artificial intelligence, social media, and algorithms, we need to think of ways to ensure that our young people know how to navigate this hyperconnected world,” said Kátia Schweickardt, Secretary of Basic Education.

According to João Brant, Secretary of Digital Policies at the Secretariat for Social Communication (Secom) of the Office of the President, this initiative is unprecedented and addresses the urgent need to guide educators on the challenges of the digital environment.

“This is the first time we’ve had media literacy guidelines, and it’s a huge win for both students and educators, who now have a clearer understanding of how to address this urgent issue in today’s world,” he said.

The text is expected to be approved by the Ministry of Education (MEC) shortly, and its implementation is expected to be gradual and mandatory starting in 2026.

A Major Step Forward for Brazil

In the article “We Must Celebrate the Inclusion of Media Literacy in the Country’s School Curricula,” Mariana Mandelli, communications coordinator at the Palavra Aberta Institute, emphasized that the CNE resolution is a milestone in ensuring that students complete their basic education with autonomy, critical thinking, and responsibility in a hyper-information environment.

She points out, however, that the document focuses on digital and media education solely in terms of the responsible and safe use of technology, when this process should also take place outside the digital environment.

“With the digitization of social relationships and the very restriction of cell phones in schools, it is clear that this is the main point of focus. But the BNCC itself considers, within the journalism and media field that is part of the Portuguese language curriculum, journalism as a subject of study. This means that activities involving the critical reading of texts and images in newspapers, textbooks, or advertisements should also be part of teaching practices, even if they are not intrinsically linked to online contexts.”

See also:

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• What You'll Find at the Administrators' Forum at Bett Brasil 2025

Media Literacy Under Discussion at Bett Brasil 2025

Digital and media education will be one of the topics at the 30th edition of Bett Brasil, which will take place from April 28 to May 1 at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo.

The topic will be addressed during the panel discussion “Media and Literary Education: Developing Critical Readers in a Connected World, ” featuring digital influencer Felipe Neto, founder of Instituto Vero, which promotes media literacy through school-based projects, and media literacy specialist and director of Entrepalavras Produção de Textos, Januária Alves, with journalist and host Petria Chaves moderating.

From the Palavra Aberta Institute, which runs the EducaMídia program—created to train teachers and educational organizations in media literacy—EducaMídia’s Educational Coordinator, Mariana Ochs, is one of the guest speakers. She will participate in the panel “AI and Learning Design: Connecting People, Processes, and Possibilities,” alongside Dr. Seiji Isotani, a full professor of Computer Science at the University of São Paulo (USP) and president-elect of the International Society for Artificial Intelligence in Education, as well as a member of the Bett Brasil Advisory Board.

Another important topic will be the new rule restricting cell phone use in schools. The panel “Cell Phones in Schools: Between Bans and Education for Mindful Use” will feature Judge Vanessa Cavalieri and Alexandre Le Voci Sayad, director of ZeitGeist (Education, Culture, and Media) and co-chair of the UNESCO MIL Alliance.

In the same vein, there will be a panel discussiontitled “From Bans to Mindful Use: How Does the Law Prohibiting Cell Phone Use in Schools Redefine the Rules of the Game?” featuring Alessandra Borelli, an attorney and digital security expert, and Cristiano Nabuco, president of the Matera Association.

To attend the 30th edition of Bett Brasil, register here. Admission is free.

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