The six workshops organized as part of Youth Net’s Mind Over Screen program provided an opportunity for senior citizens, working professionals, and young volunteers from around the world to come together at the association’s headquarters to discuss the impact of new technologies on our minds and how we use them. 

These workshops helped us develop practical skills: 

• A critical approach to media information
• Knowledge of techniques to incorporate into daily life in order to use new technologies in a healthier way
• Understanding how our data is managed
• Recognizing the impact of social media on mental health and knowing how to protect ourselves

The different modules were about: 

• The digital citizenship and online ethics
• Online safety and privacy protection
• A critical media consumption
• The digital Footprint management
• The digital wellness and selfcare
• Empowerment and Advocacy
• Monitoring and Evaluation Methods

The third module, “Critical Media Consumption,” helped participants understand the differences between misinformation, disinformation, and fake news.

It also ensured they were able to assess the credibility and trustworthiness of digital content and sources, as well as identify different types of media bias and manipulation techniques, especially framing, emotional appeal, and clickbait.

The fourth module, “Digital Footprint Management,” focused on teaching methods for maintaining a positive digital footprint (Permission, Profile, Privacy, Protect, Positive). It emphasized that once information is shared on the internet, it remains there permanently.