How to not get lost in the digital world: Why education wins over regulation
Project Description
Do you know the feeling? From morning, emails fill your inbox, social media platforms spew out endless streams of tailor-made posts, and news portals vie for your attention with compelling and irresistible headlines. Do you ever feel lost in this digital chaos? That it’s difficult to distinguish facts from conjecture, trustworthy messages from manipulation? The digital world is fascinating and full of opportunities, but it also hides pitfalls that can have far-reaching consequences not only for our opinions, attitudes, perception, and health, but also for society as a whole.
Our philosophy is clear. Instead of restrictions and prohibitions, which often lead only to frustration, we rely on the power of education, awareness, and strengthening individual competencies. We believe that an informed and critically thinking citizen is resilient to the dangers of the online environment and can defend themselves effectively.
Critical media and digital literacy as a key to orientation in the online space
Critical Media and Digital Literacy (DML-CML) is a set of tools and skills that will help you orient yourself in the digital world. Specifically, this means:
- understand and analyse content – knowing how to decipher why and by whom a message was created, who its target audience is, and what techniques it uses to influence you. Is it an attempt to inform, or to manipulate?
- verify facts – not getting swayed by first impressions alone. Learning to use simple tools and techniques for quickly verifying information – whether it's checking the source, cross-referencing with other media, or checking images with a reverse image search.
- be safe in the online environment – understanding privacy settings on social media, knowing what to share and what to keep to yourself, and how to defend yourself against cyberbullying or scams.
- behave ethically in the online environment – reflecting on the impact of your own posts. Am I spreading true information? Am I communicating with respect? Am I contributing to a positive online environment?
Simply put, it’s about the ability to become an active creator, not just a passive recipient of digital content. It's about knowing how to ask questions, think critically, and take responsibility for your online behaviour.
Why educate when we can regulate?
European data shows a worrying trend (Standard Eurobarometer 96, Winter 2021-2022):
70% of European respondents often encounter news that misrepresents reality or is untrue. At the same time, only 62% of them can easily identify such information. While trust in traditional media is higher than in online news and social media, 39% of respondents reported low or no trust in the media. Social media platforms are by far the most common place where people expect to encounter disinformation or fake news (64%).
Algorithms of social media platforms often ensure easy access to a huge amount of information, but not always based on the principles of honesty and ethics, but according to the rules of persuasive communication and manipulation, where emotions often outweigh facts.
Our approach is based on the belief that regulation alone, although it has its place, cannot solve the problem comprehensively. While regulations or prohibitions may temporarily suppress the spread of harmful content, they do not address its essence, i.e., the insufficient ability of people to think critically and verify information for themselves. People need tools and knowledge to be able to move with confidence in the digital environment and not let themselves be manipulated.
When people strengthen the necessary skills, they gain the power to recognise manipulation themselves, choose trustworthy sources and actively contribute to a better information climate. It is an investment in informed citizenship that brings long-term and sustainable results.
Who is most vulnerable in the digital world and how do we help them?
Media and digital literacy is important for everyone, but some groups face greater challenges. These include people with fewer opportunities, such as:
- seniors – they often find themselves in the "digital divide" and are the target of online scams and misinformation.
- people with health limitations – they may have difficulties with concentration, memory or are more susceptible to emotional manipulation.
- individuals with barriers to education – those who have dropped out of the education system early or have a low level of literacy may have difficulty analysing information.
- people with cultural differences – they may face language barriers, unfamiliar cultural contexts or stereotypes in the media.
- people exposed to social or economic barriers or discrimination – they may have limited access to technology, distrust of institutions or be exposed to negative content.
For all of them, we have developed specific, inclusive pedagogical approaches that take into account their unique needs and overcome obstacles. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their starting position, can fully use the digital world and protect themselves from its risks.
Our solution in practice
In order to put our philosophy into practice, we have developed a number of innovative activities and workshops across Europe. Our Methodology Toolkit (below available for download) is full of concrete examples that show how key skills are strengthened in practice:
- Interactive workshop 'Disinformation Detectives – Deconstructing Online Narratives' (Czech Republic)
This workshop for high school students strengthens their ability to critically analyse and verify online information, recognise disinformation tactics and resist manipulative narratives. Participants learn how the influence of emotions affects the reception and dissemination of information. During practical exercises, groups work with authentic examples of disinformation (texts, images, videos) and, with the help of verification tools (e.g., Google Reverse Image Search), uncover how the disinformation was created and what techniques it uses. They then create proposals for their own "anti-disinformation" campaigns, which strengthens their ability to get actively involved.
- Media literacy labs for seniors (Italy)
This programme increases the ability of seniors to identify reliable information and counter online disinformation. The workshops, which are interactive and practical, are held in small groups (approx. 10 seniors) over a period of 3 months. Seniors learn to recognise manipulative techniques and even try to create "fake news" themselves in order to better understand their mechanisms. This also includes an explanation of the psychological mechanisms of manipulation by a psychologist, and ensuring access to devices for those who do not have them.
- Workshop Truth or Trap? A smart hunt for media literacy (Greece)
A workshop for young adults (18+) that teaches them to evaluate the credibility of online information using only their smartphones and critical thinking. Participants work with real online messages and learn to verify sources, check images and recognise emotionally manipulative headlines. The aim is to make their critical thinking more effective in the fast-paced online environment and to teach them cross-referencing of information.
These activities are not just about passing on information, but about building real skills essential for daily activities. They show that media and digital literacy does not represent a static set of knowledge, but a constantly evolving set of skills that need to be adapted to new trends and technologies.
What to take away for your own life?
You don't have to be a media expert to feel safe and confident in the online world. You just need to start with a few simple steps that you can apply right now:
- stop and doubt - before you believe or share any information, ask yourself: Who created the message? For what purpose? What is its source?
- verify, verify, verify - use search engines to find the original source, look for other media that have shared the message, and check whether the information matches.
- beware of emotions - news that immediately triggers strong emotions in you (anger, fear, euphoria) is often created to manipulate you. Take a deep breath and think critically.
- broaden your horizons - read news from various sources, not just those that confirm your existing views. This will help you see things in a broader context.
A clear vision for the digital future
Our approach shows that the digital world does not have to be a place of fear and uncertainty. When we focus on education, we empower not only individuals but society as a whole. With critical media and digital literacy, we can jointly build a more informed, resilient and equitable digital future for all.
This article was created within the "Don't Regulate, Educate" (DRE) project, project no.: 2023-2-EL01-KA210-ADU-000181229, co-funded by the European Union.
The opinions and views expressed in the article are, however, only those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.