Youth training on combating fake news was conducted under the project “Intercultural academy for civic participation and toleranced

At the end of May, parallel to the “Open Heart” festival, the Amalipe Center organized youth training focused on recognizing and combating fake news and disinformation in the online space. Active students and university attendees were introduced to key terms related to the spread of manipulation and deception, including new methods using artificial intelligence like deep fake.

Participants were provided with visual examples of fake news and misinformation being spread as truth, followed by discussions on the potential victims of disinformation and the places where it is most commonly disseminated. Through practical exercises and interactive discussions, the

participants learned how to recognize and critically analyze the information they encounter online.

During the festival days in Marno Pole Park, the “True Stories from the Community” workshop and the “Fake News” workshop were held, providing the youth with a platform to share their knowledge and experience with the wider public. Youth volunteers actively supported the initiative by explaining methods for recognizing fake news and disinformation.

Based on the knowledge they acquired, the students are now ready to pass on their skills to their peers in their own communities, strengthening media literacy and awareness of the importance of truth in the information space. The training not only improved media literacy but also aimed to encourage active civic participation and responsible behavior among the youth in the online space. Some of them have already conducted campaigns on the topic in their schools.

The training was carried out within the framework of the project “Intercultural academy for civic participation and tolerance,” which is implemented with the support of the U.S. State Department through the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria.