The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), a specialised UN agency in charge of information and communication, is set to launch on September 25, 2025, a project on “Parenting in the Digital Age”, a new global initiative to engage parents and families in enhancing Media and Information Literacy (MIL).
The launch is being organised in partnership with a Paris-based organisation, Centre pour l’éducation aux médias et à l’information (CLEMI), a national agency established under the auspices of the French Ministry of Education, dedicated to advancing media and information literacy across the French education system.
It will take place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, and will mark the beginning of a collaboration between UNESCO and CLEMI, leading to the development of a Guide for parents and families to help them navigate the complex challenges of the digital world.
The September 25 event, which will be held as a physical meeting in English and French, is themed: “To Educate or to Ban: Breaking the Deadlock – UNESCO’s New Initiative on Parenting in the Digital Age”. It is targeted at educators, youth and their parents.
It will begin with a screening of selected excerpts from the Netflix series Adolescence, followed by a dialogue with global experts on the topic of parenting in the digital age.
The dialogue will reflect on contemporary challenges related to parenting, the potential banning of social media for young users and its impact on their rights, and address children and youth’s use of social media, digital platforms and new technologies, as well as that of parents and families.
The event will include a panel discussion with educators, parents, and youth from the French educational system.
This session will offer guidance and best practices for balancing freedom of expression and access to information while prioritising youth wellbeing and online safety.