Lithuania
Media and information literacy in Lithuania presents a mixed picture, reflecting both progress and some persisting challenges. According to the European Commission’s Digital Decade Country Report 2024, 52.9% of the Lithuanian population has at least a basic level of digital skills, though this remains slightly below the EU average (55.6%), highlighting a need for continued efforts in digital skills improvement and education.
According to the European Media Literacy Index 2023, Lithuania ranked 20th out of 41 countries. This position suggests that there’s room for improvement in societal resilience and information verification. The Eurobarometer survey on news consumption also highlights areas for growth. While Lithuanians mostly consume news through TV (69%), they also consume a significant amount via social media networks (52%), higher than the European average of 37%.
Despite the challenges, Lithuania is moving in the right direction with a range of policies and strategies that emphasize the importance of media and information literacy. The Law on Public Information Provision, Lithuanian Culture Policy Strategy, National Development Plan 2021-2030, Public Information Policy Strategic Directions 2019–2022, Library Development Policy Strategic Directions 2016–2022, and the strategic directions of the media and information literacy of the National Martynas Mažvydas Library all stress the significance of media and information literacy. These policies are enabling the public to assess publicly available information and resist undesirable information threats, while also stimulating civic activity, participation, and creativity.
Lithuania
Media and information literacy in Lithuania presents a mixed picture, reflecting both progress and some persisting challenges. According to the European Commission’s Digital Decade Country Report 2024, 52.9% of the Lithuanian population has at least a basic level of digital skills, though this remains slightly below the EU average (55.6%), highlighting a need for continued efforts in digital skills improvement and education.
According to the European Media Literacy Index 2023, Lithuania ranked 20th out of 41 countries. This position suggests that there’s room for improvement in societal resilience and information verification. The Eurobarometer survey on news consumption also highlights areas for growth. While Lithuanians mostly consume news through TV (69%), they also consume a significant amount via social media networks (52%), higher than the European average of 37%.
Despite the challenges, Lithuania is moving in the right direction with a range of policies and strategies that emphasize the importance of media and information literacy. The Law on Public Information Provision, Lithuanian Culture Policy Strategy, National Development Plan 2021-2030, Public Information Policy Strategic Directions 2019–2022, Library Development Policy Strategic Directions 2016–2022, and the strategic directions of the media and information literacy of the National Martynas Mažvydas Library all stress the significance of media and information literacy. These policies are enabling the public to assess publicly available information and resist undesirable information threats, while also stimulating civic activity, participation, and creativity.
EDMO hub membership
Lithuania is part of BECID (Baltic Engagement Centre for Combating Information Disorders) along with Estonia and Latvia. Key Lithuanians stakeholders in the network are the Department of Public Communications of Vytautas Magnus University and online news media Delfi.lt.
BECID brings together experts in fact-checking, media literacy, media practice, and academic research. Key activities include performing regular fact-checks within private and public media outlets in the Baltic region, carrying out studies on the perception of disinformation amongst different media audiences, analyzing disinformation trends, and executing media literacy campaigns to increase information resilience and improve media / digital literacy among different age groups.
Who is responsible for media literacy at a national level?
The Lithuanian Ministry of Culture is the primary driver of media literacy policy proposals and implementation. In response to technological developments, social implications, and changing media situations, several programs and policy documents have been initiated. While a national strategy on media and information literacy (MIL) is yet to be developed, the concept of MIL is already a component of the national guidelines prepared by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Science for secondary schools. Other ministries, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also contribute to resilience, particularly in terms of risk awareness.
Official policies/frameworks
In recent years, Lithuania has undertaken significant institutional reforms to bolster its resilience against information threats and enhance media and information literacy (MIL) among its citizens. In 2023, the National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) was established as a structural unit of the Government Chancellery in Lithuania. This Centre plays a crucial role in coordinating the activities of national authorities to prevent and counteract information threats, thereby enhancing the nation’s preparedness. NCMC manages and coordinates the state’s strategic communication in national security. In 2024, the NCMC consolidated and developed a unified model for monitoring and analysing information incidents, utilizing a standardized data format methodology and advanced technological solutions.
The Lithuanian government’s 2024 programme acknowledges the importance of strengthening media and information literacy; however, specific implementation strategies remain under development. Notably, the Lithuanian National Security Strategy, updated in 2021, identifies cyber and information attacks as significant threats and emphasizes the need for an integrated crisis and emergency management system. While the strategy primarily focuses on cybersecurity, it also recognizes the role of professional journalism and a robust media sector as integral components of societal resilience.
In September 2023, the Ministry of Culture, in a collaborative effort with various stakeholders, including government ministries, media sector representatives, and civil society organizations, approved an inter-institutional National Action Plan for journalists’ protection, safety, and empowerment. This plan outlines 23 time-bound recommendations, including awareness campaigns, training sessions for law enforcement and judicial personnel, and measures to strengthen national coordination structures for the safety of journalists.
The status of media literacy in the national school curriculum
Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in Lithuania’s national school curriculum is primarily integrated as a cross-curricular competence rather than a standalone subject. While a few schools offer a dedicated MIL subject, the national approach emphasizes embedding MIL across various subjects, enabling teachers to incorporate media literacy elements into their respective disciplines. This strategy aligns with the broader educational objective of fostering critical thinking and digital competencies among students.
Teachers are supported by methodological tools for teaching media and information literacy at secondary schools (all grades) and in non-formal or informal education. One of the most active stakeholders that aids in non-formal education is the National Safer Internet Center in Lithuania which is coordinated by the Lithuanian Informal Education Agency together with its partners – the Communications Regulation Authority of the Republic of Lithuania, the association Window to the Future and the Public Institution Children‘s Line. The specific targets have been set to enable 1) raising young people‘s media literacy awareness, 2) a hotline that receives and processes user reports of illegal activity and harmful Internet content; 3) helpline for children and young people who have encountered problems while using Internet technologies with ridicule, bullying or other means of intimidation. The portal epilietis.eu, administered by the association Window to the Future, provides tutorials on various digital technologies and MIL topics.
Complementing these institutional efforts, Lithuania has launched several initiatives to enhance MIL among youth. In May 2024, nearly 2,000 high-school students from 61 schools across 33 cities and towns participated in the country’s first-ever disinformation literacy exam. This initiative, a collaboration between the Office of the Government and Debunk.org, aimed to assess and improve students’ abilities to evaluate information and recognize disinformation critically. Furthermore, the All Digital Weeks 2024 campaign, coordinated by the association Window to the Future, focused on cybersecurity, digital skills, and safer internet practices. The campaign reached over 40,000 Lithuanian citizens through webinars, educational events in public libraries and educational institutions, and interactive activities designed to improve digital literacy.
The position of initiatives targeted at those not in formal education
In Lithuania, non-formal education is pivotal in enhancing Media and Information Literacy (MIL) among diverse population groups, particularly adults and seniors. While formal education systems integrate MIL into curricula, a significant portion of MIL advancement stems from grassroots initiatives and community-driven programs.
Lithuania’s public library network, coordinated and supported by the Ministry of Culture, has become a central hub for MIL education. Annually, during World Media and Information Literacy Week, libraries across the country organize various events, including lectures, workshops, and interactive sessions, targeting different age groups, with a special focus on seniors. These initiatives aim to equip participants with skills to critically assess information, recognize misinformation, and navigate the digital landscape safely.
Non-governmental organizations also contribute significantly to MIL in non-formal settings. The Civic Resilience Initiative (CRI) has developed an interactive tool, “Disinformation Challenge,” a game-based learning platform designed to bolster youth’s critical thinking and information verification skills. This initiative, supported by Google, emphasizes engaging educational methods to teach media literacy effectively. Similarly, Debunk.org, an independent technological analytical center, conducts educational media literacy campaigns and offers different resources. Free courses teach individuals to identify false and misleading information, enhancing societal resilience to disinformation.
The most notable example is the Association DIGIRES Baltic Research Foundation for Digital Resilience. According to a 2022 report it aims to turn digital (media and information) literacy, as well as source verification acts and fact-checking, into long-term competences so that knowledge and practical doings become a sustainable, democratic resilience-oriented, and mutually empowering force that provides a decisive response to manipulations and attacks on human rights and democracy. DIGIRES Association on its behalf tries to put all the efforts into connecting and finding ground for collaboration for different stakeholders involved in building digital resilience, especially fact-checkers which are only few in Lithuania and need greater support and larger network with other experts and stakeholders.
These initiatives underscore Lithuania’s commitment to fostering media literacy beyond formal education. By leveraging community resources, technological tools, and collaborative efforts, the country continues to build a resilient society capable of critically engaging with the information ecosystem.
Other media literacy stakeholders
Association Baltic Research Foundation for Digital Resilience (DIGIRES) – a collaborative network of academics, NGOs, and media professionals conducting research into digital resilience and developing media and information tools to detect disinformation.
UNESCO Chair on Media and Information Literacy – is a center focused on MIL research and media education initiatives at Vytautas Magnus University, engaging in media governance and media education efforts at national, regional, and global levels.
Centre for Digital Ethics – is a non-profit, independent organisation dedicated to the well-being of the smart society, especially children and young people, in the digital world.
Civic Resilience Initiative (CRI) – is a Lithuanian non-profit, non governmental organization focusing its activities on increasing the resilience of Lithuanian and other societies of the region through spheres of security, media-literacy, disinformation, cyber, civil and grass-root activities.
Debunk.org – independent technology think tank focusing on countering online disinformation and state-sponsored internet propaganda through research, analysis, and media literacy education.
Library for all (MIRKT) – A national initiative led by the Lithuanian Librarians’ Association, organizing annual Media and Information Literacy (MIL) weeks and year-round training sessions in libraries, targeting various age groups, especially seniors.
Lithuanian Safer Internet Centre (draugiskasinternetas.lt) – center that promotes safer and more responsible use of digital technology among children and young people, including media literacy education.
Media4Change – a non-governmental organization that promotes quality journalism and media literacy through training programs, mentorship, and research initiatives.
Small big screens (Dideli maži ekranai) – is a media education and research project by the Media Education and Research Centre “Meno avilys” and the British Council, for media literacy in Lithuanian schools in ethnically diverse regions. The project aims to develop the media literacy skills of Lithuanian young people and youth educators and discover, explore, and foster dialogue with their community through creative and analytical media literacy activities.
Vytautas Magnus University and Vilnius University are leading the efforts of media and information research and analysis. Vytautas Magnus offers a course for undergraduate students on Media and Information Literacy.
UNESCO National Commission of Lithuania – engages and promotes UNESCO ideals and programs and coordinates projects and initiatives linked with MIL.
There are several fact-checking organizations that belong to prominent online news media outlets in Lithuania that also contribute to societal resilience against disinformation as well as improving information verification skills: Delfi Melo Detektorius, Patikrinta 15min, LRT Faktai.