‘More relevant than making fires’: Explorer Scouts launch badges for AI and digital age

Content creation and online safety among new topics for 14- to 18-year-olds - but tweaks may be needed when social media ban comes in

Scouts are introducing badges in content creation, digital communication and online safety after consulting nearly 3,000 teenagers who said they wanted skills to help them navigate a world increasingly shaped by AI, social media and digital technology.

The new Explorer Scout badges, part of the Scout movement's first major overhaul in almost 25 years, will require 14- to 18-year olds to explore how digital communities shape opinion, create online campaigns, investigate digital footprints and design toolkits to help others stay safe online.