Votes at 16 is a victory for young people – but true democratic empowerment is still some way off

The news we’ve all been waiting for has arrived: the UK government is lowering the voting age to 16 for all elections. This is, in the government’s own words, a “seismic change”, and one that is broadly welcomed across youth and educational organisations. It’s a resounding affirmation of the vital role young people play in shaping our nation’s future, and a significant step towards a more inclusive and representative democracy.

However, amidst this celebration, a crucial caveat must be unequivocally stated: the success of the policy is inextricably linked to a robust and comprehensive implementation of political and media literacy education. 

Without essential foundational knowledge of how government and democratic institutions work and the strong critical thinking skills to resist manipulation, we risk creating a generation of voters susceptible to mis- and disinformation. In the context of an information environment which is becoming ever more unreliable, this also runs counter to the democratic principles the government seeks to strengthen in its proposed elections bill.

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In our work at Shout Out UK we’ve witnessed, through our work combating disinformation and extremism nationwide, how easily individuals can be swayed when lacking the critical thinking skills to evaluate information. Consider the stark lessons from Wales, where votes at 16 was introduced without political and media literacy education alongside. The result was a low turnout and reports of young people feeling unprepared. A poll for ITN, widely reported on this week, found that almost half of 16- and 17-year-olds do not feel the voting age should be lowered. The poll did not delve into the reasons why this might be the case, but our own experience suggests this is because they may not feel adequately prepared or informed to vote.

Hand in hand with the increasing and alarming lack of trust in politicians and democratic institutions among young people, the urgent case for comprehensive political and media literacy education is clear.

We know that young people, including those newly enfranchised 16- and 17-year-olds, are gaining more and more of their news and information from social media and video-sharing sites, where deepfakes and misinformation are rife. This underscores the value of instilling media literacy from a young age.

Media literacy is the capacity to objectively analyse what you’re hearing, reading and seeing. It involves being aware of your own biases and possessing the emotional resilience to engage with those you disagree with. In an increasingly complex digital world, especially with the rapid evolution of AI-generated content, it’s a fundamental necessity, not just for young people, but for us all.

A population lacking media literacy is highly susceptible to mis- and disinformation, leading to eroded trust in credible sources and institutions. We’ve seen how online misinformation can propagate real-world violence, as tragically demonstrated by last summer’s riots following the Southport murders.

This is why I would urge the government to proactively implement interconnected measures to ensure the expansion of suffrage leads to a more informed, resilient and vibrant democracy. These include making media and political literacy a statutory subject in the national curriculum, reinforced by embedding it across other subjects; investing in teacher training so that teachers can confidently deliver such education; and funding a national public information campaign across advertising channels to reinforce basis knowledge of our democracy and why it is so important to protect it. This latter measure also addresses the government’s stated aim to strengthen democracy against growing threats.

Our successful DISMISS campaign, in partnership with Ofcom and the Electoral Commission, ahead of the 2025 general election is an example of how this can be achieved. We reached more than six million individuals with messaging targeted to first-time voters about how to resist online mis- and disinformation. Imagine what could be achieved collectively with further government buy-in.

The decision to grant votes at 16 is a cause for genuine celebration. It empowers a new generation and strengthens our democracy. However, without a parallel commitment to comprehensive, sustained, and accessible political and media literacy education, this historic step risks falling short of its transformative potential. Let’s seize this opportunity to not only broaden the franchise but to cultivate a truly informed, engaged, and resilient citizenry.

Matteo Bergamini MBE is the founder and CEO of Shout Out UK, an organisation which promotes political and media literacy and works to combat misinformation.

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