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Behind the Screen: Unmasking Online Predators

2026-1-RO01-KA152-YOU-0003965662026Mobility of young peopleongoing
Countries: RO|PT|MK|TR · Grant: €35,911
Digital safetyDigital skills and competencesInclusion of marginalised young people

Objectives

In the practice of working with young people, the starting point of this project is the recognition of a paradox of our era: unlimited access to technology does not equate to security. Although most young people are considered digital natives in terms of platform usage skills, they often remain vulnerable from a security perspective. The project intervenes strategically at this critical point, using non-formal education sessions to train young people to deconstruct sophisticated manipulation mechanisms. They learn to identify the red flags of the grooming process, which are frequently masked by emotional validation and social isolation techniques. By assimilating this knowledge, young people build a real cognitive shield against online blackmail. Working with young people in the current context involves equipping them with a set of technical tools mastered at an expert level. We go beyond theoretical recommendations and facilitate applied cyber hygiene sessions, where participants learn to remove photo metadata to stop location tracking and configure advanced protection systems, such as two-factor authentication (2FA). This stage marks the fundamental transition to autonomy. The young person ceases to depend on chance or algorithms, becoming the conscious administrator of their own virtual private space. This technical mastery replaces fear and confusion with confidence and self-confidence. The deepest dimension of our intervention is psychological transformation through assertiveness. In the face of peer pressure or online harassment, many young people tend to choose isolation. Through methods such as Forum Theater, we offer them a safe space to rehearse for reality. They practice assertive communication techniques, such as the Broken Disc, learning to define and defend their personal boundaries without slipping into aggression. This inner strength is the foundation of civic leadership, a young person who acquires the ability to protect themselves becomes motivated and able to act as a protective factor for others. The purpose of working with young people in this project is to assume the role of Digital Safety Ambassador. Participants do not leave the mobility only with an informational baggage, but invested with a social mission. They are prepared to become peer-to-peer support points in Romania, Portugal, Turkey and Serbia. By organizing local information campaigns, young people assume the responsibility of educating, in turn, the communities they come from. This is the essence of our vision of civic leadership: transforming an individual learning experience into a collective resource, essential for the safety and resilience of the European community in the digital space.. The goal of the project is to increase the resilience and online safety of 32 young people from Romania, Portugal, Turkey and Serbia, by transforming them into Digital Safety Ambassadors. The project combines technical literacy with the development of emotional intelligence and assertiveness, providing young people with the necessary tools to identify, prevent and report digital abuse in their communities. Project objectives: I. Increase the level of information on online manipulation mechanisms for all 32 participants, so that they can correctly identify at least 5 red flags of the grooming and blackmail process by the end of the 9 days of activities. II. Develop practical cyber hygiene skills for 100% of young participants, becoming able to use two-factor authentication (2FA), configure privacy settings and remove location metadata from content posted online by the end of the mobility. III. Empowering the 32 young people in applying 3 assertive communication techniques (First Person Message, Broken Disc and Fogging) for managing online pressure, validated through practical simulations and preparing a local information campaign to be implemented in each country.

Project partners (4)