Rise in Conspiracy Theories Among School Children Alarms Educators

The number of children reporting exposure to conspiracy theories, misinformation, and disinformation in schools has surged by more than a third over the past year, according to new research that highlights growing concerns about information literacy among young people.

A poll conducted by Public First for the Commission into Countering Online Conspiracies in Schools found that 27 percent of young people now report these issues as prevalent in their educational environment, up from 20 percent last year—representing a 35 percent increase.

Perhaps more concerning for educators, 81 percent of teachers reported having students bring up conspiracy theories in class, indicating the widespread nature of the problem across British schools.

The research also revealed a significant jump in parental awareness, with 38 percent of parents reporting that their children had raised conspiracy theories at home, compared to 28 percent in 2024.

Artificial intelligence technologies appear to be accelerating the problem. The study found that 44 percent of young people had encountered AI-generated images or videos designed to appear authentic within the past month, while 39 percent reported seeing deepfakes—sophisticated fake videos that can realistically depict people saying or doing things they never did.

School staff participating in focus groups identified several common conspiracy theory topics that students had raised, including misinformation surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, far-right activist Tommy Robinson, and conspiracy theories about the death of Charlie Kirk.

Sir Hamid Patel, chief executive of Star Academies trust and co-chair of the commission, described the situation as “a perfect storm of misinformation” facing schools.

“False claims are spreading faster and becoming harder to detect,” Patel warned. “Adults are not immune to this, and misleading information is increasingly shaping the conversations young people encounter not just online, but also at school and at home.”

The findings underscore the growing challenge for educators trying to foster critical thinking in an increasingly complex information landscape. Experts have long warned that social media algorithms tend to promote sensational or controversial content, which can lead young users toward increasingly extreme viewpoints without exposure to balancing perspectives.

Parents continue to play a crucial role as information gatekeepers, with 90 percent of children and young people reporting that they “completely or moderately trust” a parent as an information source. However, this trust may sometimes be misplaced, as half of young people reported having experienced a parent believing false information they had read online. This figure rises to 65 percent among older teenagers aged 17-18.

The commission’s findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced media literacy education. Patel emphasized that curriculum measures helping pupils “think critically, weigh evidence and question what they see” are increasingly important.

“In a world of viral deepfakes, malign influencer content and growing uncertainty about what is real, media literacy must be embedded in lessons from primary school to protect children,” he added.

Education experts suggest that schools may need additional resources and training to help teachers identify and counter misinformation in the classroom, particularly as AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated and harder to distinguish from authentic material.

The report comes amid broader societal concerns about the impact of social media and digital platforms on youth development, mental health, and the ability to discern fact from fiction—skills that will be increasingly vital for future generations navigating an information ecosystem where the boundaries between reality and fabrication continue to blur.