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Fake news in online era - Infodemic

2020-3-HR01-KA105-0945662020Youth mobilityfinalized
Countries: HR|PL|ES|MK|UA · Grant: €16,899.92
Creativity and cultureYouth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)Recognition, transparency, certification

Objectives

One of the youth goals is to ensure young people have better access to reliable information, support their ability to evaluate information critically and engage in participatory and constructive dialogue. Motivated by this goal, our main objective is to increase the competencies of media literacy in terms of recognizing, understanding and raising awareness of fake news as well as the manipulation of information by the media where through this youth exchange, young people will develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes in the areas of critical thinking, addressing a realistic approach to the world around us. Now, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of “fake news” and “fake facts” has reached its peak. Because of the fear and lack of knowledge regarding this new situation, people started to follow more news, from different sources, hoping to find some sense in all of this. One of the groups targeted by fake news for propaganda and profit are young people, who spend increasing amounts of time on the Internet and especially social media during quarantine and lockdown. Because of the situation, negative phenomena such as fake news, post-truth, trolls have become part of our daily lives making it difficult to discern between false and true information, often making many of us involuntary disinformation agents. Therefore, with this project we want to empower young people and share knowledge to outsmart the ever-present flow of intentional misinformation, e.g. through fact-checking abilities and improved Internet media literacy. This is the tipping point for the youth to learn about information hygiene. Being media literate allows us to see which information sources are reliable, and which can have underlying messages that affect us. By understanding those messages, we can change how it affects us. Media literacy is so important because it can help us to control our actions in response to the media, and allow it to have less control over our views. Specific objectives of this project: 1. By being involved in the project the 32 participants will increase their knowledge about the concept of media literacy and its importance, with the focus on fake news and the challenges it brings; 2. Participants will raise awareness of negative consequences of fake news and selective, opportunistic and sensational media coverage and will be encouraged to objectively evaluate information gotten from different sources of media and social media; 3. Through project activities participants will develop critical thinking in the direction of recognizing fake news and fact checking especially in the “new” online era; 4. Giving the space to participants to share their experience and best practice regarding the media literacy and fake news; 5. Participants will be informed about the values provided by European mobility projects and the opportunities it offers, as well as for the importance of non-formal education and Youth Pass.

Project partners (5)