The #MediaSmartOnline campaign aims to spotlight media literacy actions, initiatives and resources across Europe, thanks to the cooperation of the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs). But as Better Internet for Kids, hearing the voices and opinions of young people is essential for any topic of discussion, including media literacy. So, let's hear it from the youth!
In today's interview, we will hear from Mikołaj, from Poland. We will find out more about his perspective of media literacy, his concerns and wishes looking ahead, and how he feels about fake news and misinformation.
BIK | Hello Mikołaj! It’s such a pleasure to have you with us today! Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? |
Mikołaj | Hi! I’m Mikołaj, I’m 15 years old, and I live in the Polish countryside. I’m passionate about programming, biology, and chemistry. In my free time, I enjoy learning new things and experimenting with small coding projects. |
BIK | That’s lovely! As you know, MediaSmartOnline is a new campaign that wants to spotlights actions, initiatives, resources to increase the media literacy skills of children and young people, as well as empower those who support them daily – parents, guardians, caregivers, and teachers and educators. But, we wouldn’t be Better Internet for Kids without wanting to capture that youth perspective! So, here's my first question for you – what does media literacy mean to you? |
Mikołaj | To me, media literacy means being able to analyse and understand the information we read or see online. It’s about knowing how to recognise reliable sources, spot fake news, and think critically about the content we encounter every day. |
BIK | And how would youevaluate your own level of media literacy? And what about your peers (friends, school mates, relatives)? |
Mikołaj | I think I can spot fake news and I understand how online algorithms work. However, I know some of my peers might not always think critically about the content they see, especially when it’s from influencers or shared widely on social media. |
BIK | Do you use any social media? If so, which ones? |
Mikołaj | Of course! I use TikTok, Instagram, sometimes Facebook. |
BIK | Where do you normally read your news from? |
Mikołaj | TikTok, but sometimes it is TV. |
BIK | How do you feel about the content you see on social media? Is there anything that makes you suspicious, concerned or worried? |
Mikołaj | Sometimes I feel like social media is full of content designed to grab attention rather than inform. It’s easy to come across posts that seem exaggerated or false, especially when they’re meant to spark strong emotions. |
BIK | So I guess you’ve come across a lot of fake news online! How do you feel about that? |
Mikołaj | It’s frustrating because fake news spreads so quickly, and it can have serious consequences. People believe it and act on it without checking if it’s true, which can lead to confusion or harm. |
BIK | I see you overall feel quite strongly about the importance of fact-checking! Did you ever find yourself in a position where someone you know (a friend, relative, school mate) was a strong believer of some fake news or conspiracy theory? What did you do in that situation? |
Mikołaj | I believe everyone has encountered such a situation at some point. It’s important to remain calm and avoid getting emotional, as there’s nothing wrong with being mistaken. The challenge with conspiracy theories is that many people are unwilling to consider alternative perspectives. However, I’m convinced that education is the key to improving media literacy. |
BIK | What do you think is currently missing when it comes to improving the media literacy skills of young people? What should be provided (by governments, schools, etc.)? |
Mikołaj | I think schools should focus more on teaching critical thinking skills and how to fact-check information. Governments could also support campaigns to raise awareness about fake news and provide easy-to-use tools for verifying sources. |
BIK | If you were to give one piece of advice on media literacy to another young person your age, what would it be? |
Mikołaj | Always question what you see online. Take a moment to check the source and think about whether the information makes sense before you believe or share it. |
BIK | That was very well said, Mikołaj. Thanks so much for sharing your insights on media literacy with us today! And let’s all continue being #MediaSmartOnline… |
Find more information about the campaign here, and here on the background.
Access the guide Be MediaSmartOnline, gathering a large number or resources, events, initiatives, trainings and more on the topic of media literacy, and available in a range of European countries.
The #MediaSmartOnline campaign aims to spotlight media literacy actions, initiatives and resources across Europe, thanks to the cooperation of the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs). But as Better Internet for Kids, hearing the voices and opinions of young people is essential for any topic of discussion, including media literacy. So, let's hear it from the youth!
In today's interview, we will hear from Mikołaj, from Poland. We will find out more about his perspective of media literacy, his concerns and wishes looking ahead, and how he feels about fake news and misinformation.
BIK | Hello Mikołaj! It’s such a pleasure to have you with us today! Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? |
Mikołaj | Hi! I’m Mikołaj, I’m 15 years old, and I live in the Polish countryside. I’m passionate about programming, biology, and chemistry. In my free time, I enjoy learning new things and experimenting with small coding projects. |
BIK | That’s lovely! As you know, MediaSmartOnline is a new campaign that wants to spotlights actions, initiatives, resources to increase the media literacy skills of children and young people, as well as empower those who support them daily – parents, guardians, caregivers, and teachers and educators. But, we wouldn’t be Better Internet for Kids without wanting to capture that youth perspective! So, here's my first question for you – what does media literacy mean to you? |
Mikołaj | To me, media literacy means being able to analyse and understand the information we read or see online. It’s about knowing how to recognise reliable sources, spot fake news, and think critically about the content we encounter every day. |
BIK | And how would youevaluate your own level of media literacy? And what about your peers (friends, school mates, relatives)? |
Mikołaj | I think I can spot fake news and I understand how online algorithms work. However, I know some of my peers might not always think critically about the content they see, especially when it’s from influencers or shared widely on social media. |
BIK | Do you use any social media? If so, which ones? |
Mikołaj | Of course! I use TikTok, Instagram, sometimes Facebook. |
BIK | Where do you normally read your news from? |
Mikołaj | TikTok, but sometimes it is TV. |
BIK | How do you feel about the content you see on social media? Is there anything that makes you suspicious, concerned or worried? |
Mikołaj | Sometimes I feel like social media is full of content designed to grab attention rather than inform. It’s easy to come across posts that seem exaggerated or false, especially when they’re meant to spark strong emotions. |
BIK | So I guess you’ve come across a lot of fake news online! How do you feel about that? |
Mikołaj | It’s frustrating because fake news spreads so quickly, and it can have serious consequences. People believe it and act on it without checking if it’s true, which can lead to confusion or harm. |
BIK | I see you overall feel quite strongly about the importance of fact-checking! Did you ever find yourself in a position where someone you know (a friend, relative, school mate) was a strong believer of some fake news or conspiracy theory? What did you do in that situation? |
Mikołaj | I believe everyone has encountered such a situation at some point. It’s important to remain calm and avoid getting emotional, as there’s nothing wrong with being mistaken. The challenge with conspiracy theories is that many people are unwilling to consider alternative perspectives. However, I’m convinced that education is the key to improving media literacy. |
BIK | What do you think is currently missing when it comes to improving the media literacy skills of young people? What should be provided (by governments, schools, etc.)? |
Mikołaj | I think schools should focus more on teaching critical thinking skills and how to fact-check information. Governments could also support campaigns to raise awareness about fake news and provide easy-to-use tools for verifying sources. |
BIK | If you were to give one piece of advice on media literacy to another young person your age, what would it be? |
Mikołaj | Always question what you see online. Take a moment to check the source and think about whether the information makes sense before you believe or share it. |
BIK | That was very well said, Mikołaj. Thanks so much for sharing your insights on media literacy with us today! And let’s all continue being #MediaSmartOnline… |
Find more information about the campaign here, and here on the background.
Access the guide Be MediaSmartOnline, gathering a large number or resources, events, initiatives, trainings and more on the topic of media literacy, and available in a range of European countries.
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