The Portuguese Safer Internet Centre (SIC) is an active partner of GILM (the Informal Group on Media Literacy) and was part of the organising team of the seventh Literacy, Media and Citizenship Congress. The event took place on 27 and 28 November 2025 at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra, and it is the longest-running initiative promoted by GILM.
Under the theme “Behaviours, narratives and human rights”, the event brought together researchers, teachers, journalists, regulators, policymakers and civil society organisations to discuss the role of media literacy in a rapidly changing digital ecosystem.
Over two days, the programme featured keynote lectures by international speakers, plenary sessions, ten parallel sessions for the presentation of scientific papers or projects, and six thematic workshops. The presentations highlighted the central role of the media and of public policies in protecting human rights, as well as the responsibility of both formal and non-formal education in shaping citizens who can use digital tools critically, recognise disinformation and make informed decisions.
The plenary sessions examined the impact of digital ecosystems on individual and collective behaviours, the (dis)informed narratives circulating on digital platforms, and the role of journalism in safeguarding human dignity. The debate also addressed the growing distrust among users, particularly younger ones, regarding what they encounter online, from so-called “lie detectors” to the proliferation of manipulated content, as well as the international “boom” in media literacy, which is now integrated into many school curricula.
The workshops offered practical experiences on combating disinformation, digital wellbeing, new verification tools and collaborative projects in schools and libraries, reinforcing media literacy as a fundamental instrument of citizenship.
In the final wrap-up, it was clear that critical thinking, human rights and informed participation are inseparable pillars in a time marked by rapid change, artificial intelligence and growing inequalities. The message was unequivocal: we are living in a critical period, and media literacy is now an indispensable condition for the quality of democracy and for each citizen’s ability to understand the world and choose their place within it.
Workshop “Fake it to make it: an interactive game on disinformation”
As part of the conference, the workshop “Fake it to make it: an interactive game on disinformation” was held by the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre, with the active participation of 13 attendees, all using their own computers. Throughout the session, participants engaged dynamically with the game, exploring different decisions and strategies in a collaborative and participatory environment.
The aim of the workshop was to present the interactive decision-making game “Fake it to make it”, designed to support understanding of the mechanisms of disinformation and its impact on society. Through the gameplay experience, participants explored the underlying reasons and processes behind the production of fake news, emotional manipulation, financial incentives and the political motivations associated with the dissemination of misleading content.
During the session, and especially in the final group discussion, participants had the opportunity to reflect critically on the choices made in the game, discuss strategies for identifying disinformation, and share perceptions about the current challenges of the digital information ecosystem.
More information on the Congress is available on GILM’s website.
Find more information about the work of the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
The Portuguese Safer Internet Centre (SIC) is an active partner of GILM (the Informal Group on Media Literacy) and was part of the organising team of the seventh Literacy, Media and Citizenship Congress. The event took place on 27 and 28 November 2025 at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra, and it is the longest-running initiative promoted by GILM.
Under the theme “Behaviours, narratives and human rights”, the event brought together researchers, teachers, journalists, regulators, policymakers and civil society organisations to discuss the role of media literacy in a rapidly changing digital ecosystem.
Over two days, the programme featured keynote lectures by international speakers, plenary sessions, ten parallel sessions for the presentation of scientific papers or projects, and six thematic workshops. The presentations highlighted the central role of the media and of public policies in protecting human rights, as well as the responsibility of both formal and non-formal education in shaping citizens who can use digital tools critically, recognise disinformation and make informed decisions.
The plenary sessions examined the impact of digital ecosystems on individual and collective behaviours, the (dis)informed narratives circulating on digital platforms, and the role of journalism in safeguarding human dignity. The debate also addressed the growing distrust among users, particularly younger ones, regarding what they encounter online, from so-called “lie detectors” to the proliferation of manipulated content, as well as the international “boom” in media literacy, which is now integrated into many school curricula.
The workshops offered practical experiences on combating disinformation, digital wellbeing, new verification tools and collaborative projects in schools and libraries, reinforcing media literacy as a fundamental instrument of citizenship.
In the final wrap-up, it was clear that critical thinking, human rights and informed participation are inseparable pillars in a time marked by rapid change, artificial intelligence and growing inequalities. The message was unequivocal: we are living in a critical period, and media literacy is now an indispensable condition for the quality of democracy and for each citizen’s ability to understand the world and choose their place within it.
Workshop “Fake it to make it: an interactive game on disinformation”
As part of the conference, the workshop “Fake it to make it: an interactive game on disinformation” was held by the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre, with the active participation of 13 attendees, all using their own computers. Throughout the session, participants engaged dynamically with the game, exploring different decisions and strategies in a collaborative and participatory environment.
The aim of the workshop was to present the interactive decision-making game “Fake it to make it”, designed to support understanding of the mechanisms of disinformation and its impact on society. Through the gameplay experience, participants explored the underlying reasons and processes behind the production of fake news, emotional manipulation, financial incentives and the political motivations associated with the dissemination of misleading content.
During the session, and especially in the final group discussion, participants had the opportunity to reflect critically on the choices made in the game, discuss strategies for identifying disinformation, and share perceptions about the current challenges of the digital information ecosystem.
More information on the Congress is available on GILM’s website.
Find more information about the work of the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
- digital citizenship media literacy
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