United Kingdom: Closed consultation on Ofcom best practice principles for on-platform interventions to promote media

On 18 December 2023, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) closed the public consultation on the best practice principles for on-platform interventions to promote media literacy. The Ofcom is required under the Communications Act 2003 to promote media literacy. Ofcom acknowledged that platform users should engage with online services safely, effectively and critically and that tech companies play an important role in this process through the design of their platforms. The Ofcom emphasised the use of interventions, which can be labels, overlays, prompts, notifications or resources to inform users about their online engagement. Ofcom has suggested three common principles on how platforms can incorporate media literacy in their design. Namely, prioritisation of media literacy while increasing transparency regarding media literacy interventions, designing timely interventions around the user's needs, and continuously monitoring and evaluating the media literacy interventions.