The main objective of the project was to promote safe, responsible and empathetic use of social media among teenagers while strengthening the capacity of youth workers and educators. The project aimed to: develop and pilot a training programme for teenagers on online safety, empathy and digital resilience; strengthen competences related to the European DigComp framework, particularly digital safety, critical information literacy, communication and responsible online participation; support vulnerable groups, including migrant and displaced Ukrainian youth; develop a non-formal educational programme for youth workers, educators and social workers; create sustainable cooperation and dissemination networks at European level. The project also aimed to improve evidence-based youth work through surveys, interviews and continuous evaluation, responding to the need for stronger inclusion, measurable impact and broader dissemination identified during the proposal evaluation process.
The project was developed in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on teenagers’ mental health, social inclusion and online safety. Teenagers increasingly face cyberbullying, exclusion, misinformation, privacy risks and online aggression, while many lack emotional and social skills to navigate online environments safely. We believe that restricting screen time alone is ineffective, as social media also supports self-expression and social connection. At the start of the project, we conducted a needs analysis involving 163 young people aged 13–24 from the Netherlands, Sweden and other EU states. The results confirmed high exposure to online risks: exclusion or blocking (52%), hurtful comments (44%), exclusion from groups (38%), bullying or harassment (17%), and only 23% reported no negative online experiences. The research also showed that vulnerable groups, especially migrant, displaced Ukrainian and neurodiverse youth, are more exposed to online aggression, misinformation and social isolation. At the same time, youth workers and educators reported lacking practical tools to address these issues. The project aimed to strengthen teenagers’ digital resilience and equip professionals with practical tools.