Our Aims
The Commission was founded in March 2024. It is led by a team of Commissioners convened from across the education, youth, media, legal and academic sectors and supported by an advisory board of civil society leaders. The Commission has four founding principles:
There is a need to act now to better understand how conspiracy theories, misinformation and disinformation have been manifesting online.
There is particular need to focus on the impact on young people in schools.
We should speak to the three groups of people with a real stake in the debate, namely young people, school staff and parents.
The research should be grounded in the existing evidence to ensure that the subsequent findings contribute to moving forward the debate and possible solutions.
The Commission has overseen an ambitious programme of research to date to better understand how conspiracy belief, misinformation and disinformation is manifesting in the lives of young people. We have spoken to teachers, wider school staff, parents and, critically, to young people themselves to better understand their experiences. The story we have uncovered is clear – and it is deeply concerning.
Our findings are clear that this problem is best tackled, at least in part, by schools. This approach is supported by both school leaders and staff. However, a clear message emerges that teachers and the wider school workforce need more support if their work in this area is to be successful. Our hope is that the findings of our research is that will make a significant contribution to how schools, trusts and the wider education sector respond to this pressing issue.
The Commission is continuing its work in 2025 and beyond, offering further insights and resources to support schools, the education sector and beyond to counter conspiracy theories, misinformation and disinformation and their impact on young people.
Implementing our recommendations
Implementation of the eleven recommendations in our landmark report.
Engagement
Working with policymakers, the sector and the media in order to raise awareness and create change.
Further Research
Continuing to better understanding the impact of this issue across young people, parents and school staff.
© Public First 2025