WHAT IS ‘LINK’ MISSION?
This project aims to create an educational strategy aimed at the senior population, to promote digital literacy and conscious participation in democratic life, to address how online disinformation can affect democracy and the electoral process, and to strengthen knowledge and sharing of European Union values.
WHY DO WE NEED THIS PROJECT?
European societies are ageing. In 1950, only 12% of the European population was over age 65. Today’s share has already doubled, and projections show that by 2050, over 36% of Europe’s population will be 65-plus years old. Promoting older citizens’ civic engagement and participation has emerged as a key societal topic, especially at a time when major disinformation campaigns are interfering with democratic processes, with 68% of Europeans admitting to coming across fake news at least once a week in a recent study done by the European Commission in 2018. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that people over 65 share seven times more fake news than young users do on social media. This situation especially worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic, where the exposition, traffic, and internet use to stay informed and share information increased drastically. The spread of both disinformation and misinformation can have a range of consequences, such as threatening our democracies, interfering with elections, polarizing debates, and putting EU citizens’ health, security, and environment at risk. As a major challenge for Europe, it requires a coordinated response of all agents in society and a strong focus on education in media literacy and engagement of all generations towards mindful citizenship.
OBJECTIVES
1) To create a capacity-building programme to develop digital media literacy and mindful democratic participation among senior citizens.
2) To empower facilitators and educators on how to promote active and mindful citizenship among seniors.
3) To encourage the exchange of experience and methodology among partners, reinforcing the network and increasing organizations’ capacity and educators’ competences.
4) To reflect on democracy pillars and seniors’ fundamental role as European Citizens towards democracy preservation, promoting their social and digital inclusion.
5) To create awareness of how disinformation and propaganda events interfere with democracy and promote critical thinking, media, and digital literacy.
6) To experiment and analyze different digital tools to promote the potential of European Citizenship as a means to improve civic engagement and social inclusion among seniors.
7) To raise awareness among seniors of the importance of the common EU values, the principles of unity and diversity, reinforcing a sense of belonging to a common European space, creating connections, and providing a sense of unity.
8) To provide seniors from different countries an opportunity to participate in two transnational educational exchanges, reinforcing a European identity and intercultural learning.
