Children and adolescents are avid users of digital technologies. Polish National Research Institute NASK’s study shows that internet usage among young people has consistently increased, with adolescents currently spending an average of 5 hours and 36 minutes online daily, primarily using social networking sites via smartphones (88.8 per cent). The EU Kids Online study also confirms increased smartphone use and online time.

When are children and young people mature enough to think critically?

Experts emphasise that considering children as digital natives does not automatically equate to possessing critical thinking and media awareness. Navigating the complex online landscape effectively demands a level of literacy and maturity that children and young people may not yet have acquired (UNICEF Office of Global Insight and Policy).

According to the theory of developmental psychology, children aged seven to twelve have not yet developed cognitive and emotional capacity, as well as the necessary skills, to distinguish between reliable and unreliable information. Consequently, they are particularly susceptible to harmful persuasion, post-truth, manipulation, or mis/disinformation (M. Reuter). Critical thinking skills typically mature in late adolescence, reaching full development in the subsequent years, which may extend up to the age of 25.

Media education from a young age

The rapid advancement of modern technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, capable of more effectively imitating reality, signals the likelihood of further evolution in online misuses and harmful practices, including mis/disinformation, exposure to age-inappropriate content, and dissemination of misleading information, as well as online surveillance and tracking user behaviour for financial gains.

Comprehensive media education for children is crucial to mitigate potential threats and support their development in the digital environment. It enables safe navigation online, critical evaluation of content, and strengthens emotional resilience and media literacy.

Building a safe online environment

Media education has become the core of the project ‘Make it clear - educating young people against disinformation online’, implemented by a consortium formed by NASK - National Research Institute together with partners from Latvia - Latvian Internet Association and Romania - Save the Children Romania. As part of the project, which has been running since the end of 2022, a hackathon event called “Creathon” with the participation of young people from Poland, Latvia and Romania, as well as an international conference with media education experts, teachers and student representatives were organised.

The project provides educational tools in five languages for teachers and educators. These resources include:

• 16 lesson modules for ages 11-13 and 14-17 for use in the classroom, discussing topics such as digital civic participation, misinformation, digital image or responsible online content sharing,
• ‘Learning menu’ - a tool for teachers that helps to activate students within individual lesson modules. ‘Learning menu’ is a creative way of engaging students - it takes the form of a restaurant menu, i.e. tasks from the following categories: starters, salads, soups, main courses, desserts or drinks. They vary in level of difficulty and the time needed to complete the exercise,
• a board game called ‘Digital brainiacs’, which takes students through various aspects of digital safety in a fun convention.

There were also podcasts and webinars for students, run by each partner in Poland, Latvia and Romania. All materials are available on the project website.  

Find more information about the work of the Polish Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.