Tenagers against fake news: Apply now in the TFCN and clarify!

Tenagers against fake news: Apply now in the TFCN and clarify!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - young people in Austria and Germany spend hours on social media every day, and while they discover fascinating content, they also encounter false information that is spread specifically. For this reason, teen fact checking Network (TFCN) is looking for committed young people between the ages of 14 and 19 to actively act against disinformation. Teresa Dapp, head of the fact check editorial team at dpa, emphasizes: "The high motivation and the commitment of young people are impressive." In workshops, the participants learn from experienced journalists how to carry out facts checks and create their own fact check videos for social media. The application phase runs until March 16, 2025, and interested young people can find out more about the conditions of participation here: ots.at

The role of social media

social media are of central importance for young people. According to the current JIM study, 95 percent of 14 to 15 year olds use the Internet every day, with platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok and YouTube particularly popular. But social media are not only a place of exchange, they also exert considerable pressure on young people, as they often present challenges and test samples that are potentially dangerous. The study reveals that nine percent of 9 to 16-year-olds can be stimulated online for risky behavior, which shows how strongly these platforms shape the identity finding and social interactions of young people. Experts emphasize the need for digital education to protect young people from these dangers and to help them to deal with content more critically, so bpb.de .

The interaction between social media and the formation of identity of young people is complex. Platforms encourage users to create content, which leads to a competition for attention. Mechanisms such as likes and comments reinforce this behavior and lead to a state of permanent "performance". Health -threatening content, such as tests of courage, can penetrate the digital living environment unnoticed. Studies show that young people in particular imitate endangered behaviors online. In this context, the promotion of media literacy is not only an individual task, but a collective challenge that affects young people, parents and schools alike.