The yearly Media Literacy Week, organised by the Dutch Media Literacy Network, draws attention to critical, instructive and – above all – positive media use. Primary schools and local libraries are the main focus, although all of the network’s partners are encouraged to participate. Some other highlights of this year’s Dutch Media Literacy Week include: 

#hierniet and research 

Anyone who is active online and on social media encounters comments. While these can often be positive, negative messages can also dominate. The majority of the Dutch population perceives online offensive behaviour as a significant problem, as revealed in research presented leading up to Media Literacy Week. To draw attention to this issue, hundreds of entities endorsed the #hierniet initiative, signalling that there is no space for hate speech, insults, threats, and other forms of online offensive behaviour on their social media channels. 

Network partners and other professionals could prepare for the week by using the whitepaper as a foundational document for developing educational materials or lessons. Online platforms could also use the whitepaper as a basis for shaping behavioural guidelines. In a new investigative article (a ‘Bitefile’), Moniek Buijzen and Esther Rozendaal delved into the question of the role of social norms in online offensive behaviour and how we can promote positive social norms online. 

Numerous network activities 

Media Literacy Week in The Netherlands was supported through hundreds of activities organised by network partners. Lectures, webinars, meetings, and podcasts took place throughout the country, all focusing on the week’s theme.

MediaMasters and the most media literate class in The Netherlands 

An integral part of Media Literacy Week is the serious game MediaMasters, played this year by a whopping 8,400 classes in grades 7 and 8. One of the topics in MediaMasters this year focused on how artificial intelligence (AI) can simplify the spread of disinformation and fake news. A survey by the Dutch Media Literacy Network, in collaboration with De Dag Vandaag, indicates that most Dutch children (aged 9 to 13) are not concerned about the increasing presence of AI. 

Class 8A of Bernadette Primary School from Naaldwijk and class 7/8 of IKC St. Vitus from Winschoten ultimately scored the most points in the MediaMasters game. This resulted in a tie for the first time in the history of this national competition. A professional jury evaluated the extra creative assignments in MediaMasters to determine a winner. Ultimately, Class 8A of Bernadette Primary School emerged victorious, while Class 7/8 of De Tweern from Goes can call themselves the most media literate class in the Netherlands in special (primary) education this year. 

Special Media Awards 

During a festive presentation at Beeld & Geluid Hilversum, the winners of the Special Media Awards were announced. This annual award ceremony, organised by Amerpoort, focuses on media creators with intellectual disabilities. We congratulate the ten award winners! 

Read the original article on NetwerkMediawijsheid.nl (in Dutch). 

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