The Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation is collaborating with Professor Alex Grech to launch the second version of Young People & Information: A Manifesto, a publication by The 3CL Foundation. Led by Professor Grech, this manifesto highlights the urgent need for action from policymakers, educators, and technology companies to address critical issues related to misinformation, digital literacy, and data privacy, fostering a more informed and responsible digital society. This manifesto underscores the pressing need to combat misinformation, strengthen media literacy, and ensure data privacy in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
One of the key concerns outlined in the manifesto is the impact of digital transformation and information overload on young people. The rapid evolution of technology, including the internet, search engines, smartphones, and disruptive innovations, has provided unprecedented access to information. However, this transformation has fundamentally changed how young people process, share, and evaluate information, influencing their self-exploration and even their participation in democracy.
Another crucial issue is accessibility and the role of technology in shaping online experiences. With 24/7 internet access, young people are constantly exposed to a vast amount of content, making it difficult to distinguish between factual and misleading information. Additionally, algorithms often create echo chambers that reinforce confirmation bias, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives and contributing to misinformation.
The declining quality of online information and the spread of misinformation is another urgent challenge. The internet is saturated with unreliable and agenda-driven content, making it harder to determine credibility. While fact-checking tools are available, they remain underutilized due to a lack of awareness and integration into education systems. Furthermore, social media and content-sharing platforms prioritize engagement and virality over truth, allowing fake news and clickbait to spread rapidly.
A lack of critical thinking and media literacy exacerbates these problems. Many young people do not have the necessary skills to critically assess online information, and media literacy is often not taught in schools. As a result, young people are vulnerable to manipulation, deepfakes, and deceptive reporting. The ease with which unverified content is shared further accelerates the spread of misinformation.
In addition, privacy and data protection concerns remain significant. Despite strict regulations such as the EU GDPR and the Digital Services Act, young people continue to trust social media platforms that collect and misuse their personal data. Many are unaware of how their data is being exploited, leading to targeted advertising, algorithmic manipulation, and privacy breaches. Ethical concerns arise as tech companies monetize user data without sufficient transparency.
To address these challenges, the manifesto outlines several key solutions and calls to action. Strengthening media literacy education is essential. Schools must integrate digital literacy programs into their curriculums, teaching students how to assess credibility, fact-check sources, and recognize misinformation techniques. Governments and institutions should also invest in programs that promote critical thinking skills.
Empowering young people as digital activists is another critical step. Encouraging youth-led initiatives and fact-checking campaigns can help counter misinformation, while responsible digital citizenship must be promoted to hold tech companies, policymakers, and educators accountable.
There is also a strong need to encourage ethical responsibility among technology companies. Stricter content moderation policies should be implemented to curb the spread of fake news, and transparency in algorithms is necessary to prevent biased content recommendations. Additionally, stronger reporting systems should be developed for flagging misleading content.
Raising awareness about data privacy is equally important. Governments, educators, and organizations should promote privacy education programs to help young people understand the risks associated with sharing personal information. The use of privacy-enhancing tools such as ad blockers, VPNs, and encrypted messaging apps should be encouraged. Stricter regulations must be enforced to hold social media companies accountable for data misuse.
The Young People & Information: A Manifesto serves as a call to action for educators, policymakers, and technology leaders. It emphasizes the responsibility to address misinformation, privacy concerns, and gaps in digital literacy, ensuring that young people are equipped with the necessary tools, education, and protections to navigate the digital world responsibly.
This Electoral Manifesto Promise includes five key deliverables:
- Inkomplu naghtu sehem taghna fil-programm BE SMART Online li hu programm vast t’edukazzjoni fuq l-uzu tal-pjattaformi digitali
- L-gharfien dwar fake news ikun parti mir-revizjoni tas-suggetti kollha li jaqghu taht l-edukazzjoni civika EMP 228
- Issir pjan ghall-kampanja edukattiva
- Implementazzjoni ta’ kampanja fuq social media ghall-livelli differenti ta’ student
- Nintroducu awareness sessions fl-iskejjel immirati kemm ghall-incidenti kif ukoll il-genituri.
This EMP is set to be completed by 30th June 2025.
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