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Measuring Adults’ Media Literacy Skills and News Media Literacy Knowledge in the Context of Age, Gender, and Education Level
This study investigated the relationships between self-reported media literacy skills, actual knowledge of news media literacy, and selected sociodemographic factors, namely age, gender, and level of education. Data were collected through an online survey conducted with a national sample of adults in Latvia (n = 871).…
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Effectiveness of Training Actions Aimed at Improving Critical Thinking in the Face of Mis- and Disinformation: A Systematic Review
The effectiveness of training interventions aimed at improving critical thinking to counter mis- and disinformation is the focus of this systematic review. While critical thinking is widely recognized as a crucial aspect, the authors state that more evidence is needed to identify which approaches are most…
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Social Media’s Effect on Sexual Literacy and Healthy Life Skills in Young Adults
This study explored the relationship between social media use, sexual health literacy, and healthy lifestyle skills among university students, when social media has rapidly transformed how young adults access and engage with health information. The aim was to examine whether social media functions as a facilitator…
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Combating Anti-Muslim
Proposal: Combating anti-Muslim hate through legal empowerment, cultural counter-narratives and civic inclusion in Europe Implementation: 2026 to 2027 Call: CERV-2025-EQUAL – Call for proposals to promote equality and to fight against racism, xenophobia and all other forms of discrimination Topic: CERV-2025-EQUAL-ANTIMUSLIM Type of Action: CERV-LS –…
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Anti-Semitism & Cultural Dialogue
Proposal: Listen, They’re talking about you Implementation: 2026 to 2028 Call: CERV-2025-EQUAL – Call for proposals to promote equality and to fight against racism, xenophobia and all other forms of discrimination Topic: CERV-2025-EQUAL-ANTISEMITISM Type of Action: CERV-LS – CERV Lump Sum Grants Proposed Budget: 293 356,28€…
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Hate Speech on Social Media: A Systemic Narrative Review of Political Science Contributions
In light of evidence showing that many young people are frequently exposed to hateful content on social media, in this systematic narrative review the analysis of political implications of online hate speech is proposed. It addresses three key questions: the main drivers of hate speech on…
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The Potential for Media Literacy to Combat Misinformation: Results of a Rapid Evidence Assessment
This recent review article explores the potential of media literacy as a response to the growing challenge of misinformation, an issue that has attracted increasing attention from academics, policymakers, and social media platforms. It focuses on assessing the effectiveness of media literacy strategies designed to help…
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The Perpetration of On- and Offline Hate Speech among Secondary School Students
This study analyzes the relationship between witnessing and perpetrating hate speech, both online and offline. The research was empirically based on data from a purpose-designed questionnaire completed by 571 secondary school students in Almería, Spain, and employs statistical analyses, including binary logistic regression and chi-square tests,…
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Transformations in Collective Action – Understanding Radicalization in Social Movements
As radicalization emerges as a central concern in contemporary social movements, this article investigates radicalization as a multidimensional and evolving process within the movements, challenging approaches that equate radicalization solely with extremism or violence. Grounded in the idea of a “social movement society,” where protest is…
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Critical Thinking in the Information Age: A Systematic Review on the Role of MIL and Information Overload
This review paper addresses the growing importance of critical thinking and media and information literacy (MIL) in a context marked by information overload. As individuals face increasing volumes of information online, these competencies have become essential for effectively understanding, evaluating, and processing information. The overall purpose…
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Exploring Hate Speech Dynamics: The Emotional, Linguistic, and Thematic Impact on Social Media Users
In this study, online hate speech as a growing concern was examined, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when anti-Asian sentiment increased across social media platforms. While the prevalence of hateful content has been widely documented, the causal mechanisms underlying emotional and behavioral changes among users who…
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Enhancing Media Literacy Through Two Ludic Tools
A recent study examined the potential of game-based learning to address the challenges young people face in navigating misinformation and critically engaging with digital media. In an increasingly unfiltered social media environment, the authors emphasized media literacy as a key competence for evaluating information and making…
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Teacher Education, Diversity, and the Prevention of Hate Speech: Ethical and Political Foundations for Inclusive Citizenship
This study examines hate speech in educational contexts, focusing on initial teacher training, in the context of Chile. Considering how hate speech is conceptualized as a form of expression that promotes violence and exclusion – and the amplifying role of social media -, drawing on the…
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Loneliness and Radicalization
This article investigates how experiences of loneliness play a role in radicalization processes. The authors’ main objective is to develop an empirically grounded theory of loneliness in contemporary forms of radicalization. Taking Hannah Arendt’s political theory, which posits loneliness as a breeding ground for terror as…
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Improving Public Literacy in Hate Speech Cases on Social Media as an Effort to Mitigate Legal and Social Impacts
Following on the evidence that hate speech and the threats posed by it and its recurrence has not received enough attention, the authors have conducted a study of hate speech in social media, focusing in particular on insults that may constitute criminal speech and on the…
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Empowerment Is Key? How Perceived Political and Critical Digital Media Literacy Explain Direct and Indirect Bystander Intervention in Online Hate Speech
With hate speech being so widespread in digital media and capable of harming people and fueling recurring hostile discourse, the study of the factors that shape bystander intervention in response to online hate speech is crucial. Specifically, there is still a need to understand how perceived…
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Large Language Models can Consistently Generate High-Quality Content for Election Disinformation Operations
According to the authors of this study, advances in large language models have raised concerns about their potential use in generating compelling election disinformation at scale. In evidence of this, a two-part investigation into the capabilities of LLMs to automate stages of an election disinformation operation…
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EU Integration Through Stories
Proposal: Capturing European Integration in Motion Implementation: 2025 to 2027 Call: CERV-2024-CITIZENS-REM – European Remembrance – 2024 Topic: CERV-2024-CITIZENS-REM-EUINTEGRATION Type of Action: CERV-LS – CERV Lump Sum Grants Proposed Budget: 393 615,00€ Keywords: EU integration, Transition moments, European identity, integration, freedom of movement, intergenerational cooperation Objective:…
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AI to Counteract Hate Speech
Proposal: Using AI Tools to Counteract Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Implementation: 2025 to 2027 Call: CERV-2024-CHAR-LITI – Promote civil society organisations’ awareness of, capacity building and implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights Topic: CERV-2024-CHAR-LITI-SPEECH Type of Action: CERV-PJG – CERV Project Grants Proposed…
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Engagement with Radical Propaganda drives Cognitive Radicalization: An Analysis of a Right-Wing Online Ecosystem
Studies into the psycho-social processes involved in the phenomena of radicalization have revealed that social exclusion, cognitive inflexibility and the perception of threats to an ingroup are significant factors in the propensity to engagement with radical content online and the posterior commitment to related offline behaviours.…
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Youth Participation in Democratic
Proposal: foster and support global policies to protect and promote children’s rights, with a specific focus on the inclusive and systemic participation of young people in democratic Implementation: Call: CERV-2025-CHILD (Rights of the child and children’s participation) Topic: CERV-2025-CHILD Type of Action: CERV-LS (CERV Lump Sum…
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Decolonize
Proposal: Decolonize and deconstruct narratives by building an inclusive educational history Implementation: 2025 to 2027 Call: CERV-2024-CITIZENS-REM – European Remembrance – 2024 Topic: CERV-2024-CITIZENS-REM-HISTMIGRATION Type of Action: CERV-LS – CERV Lump Sum Grants Proposed Budget: 192 915,00€ Keywords: Decolonization, Colonialism, Equality, Inter-cultural dialogue, Minorities, Migration, collection…
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DeCol
Proposal: DeCol – Decolonize and deconstruct narratives by building an inclusive educational history Implementation: 2025 to 2027 Call: CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM – European Remembrance – 2025 Topic: CERV-2025-CITIZENS-REM-HISTMIGRATION Type of Action: CERV-LS – CERV Lump Sum Grants Proposed Budget: 256 365,00€ Keywords: Decolonization, Colonialism, Equality, Inter-cultural dialogue, Minorities,…
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Democratic Engagement and Civic Participation
Proposal: Beyond the stereotypes Implementation: 2025 to 2027 Call: CERV-2025-CITIZENS-CIV – Citizens’ engagement and participation Topic: CERV-2025-CITIZENS-CIV Type of Action: CERV-LS – CERV Lump Sum Grants Proposed Budget: 287 135,00€ Keywords: Democratic engagement and civic participation, Disinformation and media literacy, EU integration, European identity, Fake-news, migration,…
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Audience Development and Film Education
Proposal: Strengthening Civic Responsibility and Engagement through European Network for Youth Implementation: 2025 to 2027 Call: CREA-MEDIA-2025-AUDFILMEDU – Audience Development and Film Education Topic: CREA-MEDIA-2025-AUDFILMEDU Type of Action: CREA-PJG – CREA Project Grants Proposed Budget: 1 091 116,45€ Keywords: Film Education, Film education, Civic participation, Youth…
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Associations Between Teachers’ Beliefs and their Perception of Hate Speech in School: A Study in Germany and Switzerland
Teachers’ perceptions of hate speech in schools is an issue that should be increasingly relevant, given the prevalence of hate speech among adolescents and the need for educational responses. While teachers are expected to address hate speech as part of their professional role, little is known…
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The Media Literacy Theory of Change and the Message Interpretation Process Model
In this article, the authors offer an examination of the Message Interpretation Process (MIP) model, originally developed to explain how young people interpret entertainment media messages and make judgments about reality and behavioral choices. As the model has evolved, its core principles have contributed to the…
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From Hate Speech to HateLess. The Effectiveness of a Prevention Program on Adolescents’ Online Hate Speech Involvement
In this study, the impact of online hate speech on adolescents was examined, and the effectiveness of HateLess – Together Against Hatred, a school-based intervention designed to reduce hate speech engagement and promote counter-speech. Using a quasi-experimental design, the research involved 820 adolescents aged 12 to…
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Counter Stereotypes and Hateful Narratives
Proposal: Counter stereotypes and hateful narratives in relation to migration, particularly with regard to migrant women Implementation: 2024 to 2026 Call: CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV – Citizens’ engagement and participation – 2023 Topic: CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV Type of Action: CERV-LS – CERV Lump Sum Grants Proposed Budget: 951 570,00€ Keywords: Engaging…
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Citizen Journalism
Proposal: Citizen journalistic empowerment and sustainable transformations Implementation: 2024 to 2026 Call: CREA-CROSS-2024-MEDIALITERACY – NEWS – Media literacy Topic: CREA-CROSS-2024-MEDIALITERACY Type of Action: CREA-PJG – CREA Project Grants Proposed Budget: 640 983,50€ Keywords: Training, Citizen Journalism, Sustainability, Media Literacy Objective: The project deals with the communication…
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News Literacy and Online News Between Egyptian and Spanish Youth: Fake News, Hate Speech and Trust in the Media
An exploratory study reflects on whether citizens can be considered “responsible” in their online news behavior when exposed to harmful content, fake news, and hate speech. It aims to position news literacy as a mediating factor in fostering civic responsibility by investigating its role in improving…
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Democratic Resilience through Artistic Form
Proposal: Investigate and promote art activism as a means of enhancing democratic participation Implementation: 2024 to 2026 Call: HORIZON-CL2-2024-DEMOCRACY-01 – Past, present and future of democracies Topic: HORIZON-CL2-2024-DEMOCRACY-01-01 Type of Action: HORIZON-RIA – HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions Proposed Budget: 2 787 026,25€ Keywords: Participatory/Participation, Public…
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Combating, Countering Disinformation
Proposal: Combating, countering disinformation and other forms of interference in the democracy Implementation: 2024 to 2026 Call: CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV – Citizens’ engagement and participation – 2023 Topic: CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV Type of Action: CERV-LS – CERV Lump Sum Grants Proposed Budget: 203 365,00€ Keywords: Countering disinformation and other forms…
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Roma Women to Combat Antigypsyism
Proposal: Intergenerational solidarity of Roma women to combat antigypsyism in Europe Implementation: 2024 to 2026 Call: CERV-2024-CITIZENS-REM – European Remembrance – 2024 Topic: CERV-2024-CITIZENS-REM-HOLOCAUST Type of Action: CERV-LS – CERV Lump Sum Grants Proposed Budget: 163 280,00€ Keywords: Roma, Roma women, intergenerational solidarity, remembrance Objective: The…
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Media Literacy in Social Media
Proposal: The project aims at introducing young people and youth workers to the media’s operation. Implementation: 2024 to 2026 Call: Erasmus+ Programme Topic: Call 2023 Type of Action: Small-scale partnerships in youth (KA210-YOU) Proposed Budget: 60 000,00€ Keywords: Media literacy and tackling disinformation, Digital safety and…
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Opposition & Youth-Led Movements in the Euromediterranean Region
Proposal: Research on Opposition, Building Trusts, and Youth-Led Movements in the Euromediterranean Region Implementation: 2024 to 2027 Call: HORIZON-CL2-2024-DEMOCRACY-01 – Past, present and future of democracies Topic: HORIZON-CL2-2024-DEMOCRACY-01-01 Type of Action: HORIZON-RIA – HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions Proposed Budget: 2 999 036,25€ Keywords: Participatory/Participation, New…
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Can We Counteract Hate? Effects of Online Hate Speech and Counter Speech on the Perception of Social Groups
Considering the fact that hate speech can increase stereotyped thinking and social distancing in a society, while – according to the authors of this study – there is still a lack of variety in the social groups under study and research into possible solutions to the…
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Understanding and Appraising ‘Hate Speech’
According to the author of this study, although hate speech has become a matter of international concern, permeating institutional and lay discussions alike, what it means to refer to a linguistic act as ‘hate speech’ remains unclear. In light of such evidence, focusing on lay understandings…
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Policy vs Reality: Comparing the Policies of Social Media Sites and Users’ Experiences, in the Context of Exposure to Extremist Content
While social media enables communication and the sharing of opinions among like-minded users, it also presents risks related to its use for harmful and potentially illegal means. The study aims to explore the community guidelines and policies of major social media platforms concerning extremist material and…
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Media and Information Literacy and Critical Thinking: A Systematic Review
In a context marked by the spread of misinformation and the growing influence of media—particularly social media—on certain social groups, the authors highlight the need to analyze how media and information literacy in the formation of citizens contributes to the development of critical thinking. This effort…
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Towards a Fruitful Concept of Radicalization: A Synthesis
In this essay, the author seeks a definition of “radicalization” that can be operationalized, which is necessary but a challenge in itself for a few reasons. The term has been around for many years, and has recently been used in work on extremism, fundamentalism, conspiracism, fanaticism,…
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Hate Speech in the Internet Context: Unpacking the Roles of Internet Penetration, Online Legal Regulation, and Online Opinion Polarization from a Transnational Perspective
In this study, the dynamics of online hate speech are examined through the analysis of a panel dataset covering 167 countries over 19 years, drawn from the V-Dem project. The relationships between key Internet context indicators and online hate speech is explored, in order to better…
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Resilience Against Radicalization and Extremism in Schools: Development of a Psychometric Scale
Noticing how practitioners, policymakers, and researchers alike have argued that the school environment can be both a risk and resilience factor for radicalization and extremism among youth, and how little research has tested this directly, the authors of this study proposed the development of a scale…
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Towards a Definition of Hate Speech—With a Focus on Online Contexts
This review addresses the ongoing challenges faced by legislators and digital platforms in defining and regulating hate speech online. Despite increased attention to the issue, questions surrounding the definition of hate speech remain unresolved, raising concerns about both theoretical clarity and practical applicability. For this reason,…
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Youths as Targets: Factors of Online Hate Speech Victimization among Adolescents and Young Adults
In this study, the victimization of adolescents and young adults through online hate speech was investigated, a phenomenon that can cause severe psychological harm during critical developmental stages. Drawing on criminology’s routine activity theory, the research investigates factors that help explain why young people become targets…
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Understanding Social Media Literacy: A Systematic Review of the Concept and Its Competences
Social Media Literacy – As an emerging concept that remains underdeveloped in the literature, it is presented as a relevant framework for understanding how individuals interact with digital platforms. Through a systematic review, the authors aimed to descriptively analyze the main definitions and competences associated with…
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Is Radicalization a Family Issue? A Systematic Review of Family‐Related Risk and Protective Factors, Consequences, and Interventions Against Radicalization
A systematic review investigated the role of family-related risk and protective factors in radicalization, an area where evidence remains fragmented despite the recognized importance of family contexts in antisocial behaviors. It also considered the potential impact of radicalization on families and the effectiveness of family-focused interventions.…
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A Systematic Review on Hate Speech among Children and Adolescents: Definitions, Prevalence, and Overlap with Related Phenomena
This systematic review examined the current state of research on the involvement of young people in hate speech, an area the authors affirm that remains relatively underexplored. Two main issues make its focus: the prevalence of hate speech among children and adolescents, including the definitions used…
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A Snapshot of Digital Literacy
This literature review has the purpose of analyzing the impact of digital literacy and its evolving nature on individuals’ daily lives. It explores digital literacy frameworks, approaches to digital literacy education, as well as the relationship between digital literacy and critical thinking, while also addressing emerging…
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Untangling Media Literacy, Information Literacy, and Digital Literacy: A Systematic Meta-Review of Core Concepts in Media Education
This systematic meta-review of scientific literature addresses the concepts of media literacy, information literacy, and digital literacy, examining how these three forms of literacy are defined and discussed. Texts were retrieved in two stages. The first text extraction was carried out in November 2015, and a…
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Hate Speech Operationalization: A Preliminary Examination of Hate Speech Indicators and their Structure
Hate speech could be efficiently addressed and prosecuted based on how it is operationalized, yet, according to the authors of this study, existing theoretical definitions remain insufficiently developed and difficult to apply in practice. To address this limitation, an empirical definition of hate speech is developed…
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Resiliences to Radicalization: Four Key Perspectives
As the idea of resilience to radicalization has become key in policymaking for the prevention of violent extremism, the way in which this resilience is understood by frontline workers is important to understand. In light of this, the authors conducted a Q-methodology study, which identified diverse…
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Understanding Changes in Violent Extremist Attitudes During the Transition to Early Adulthood
In this study, changes in support for violent extremism during the transition from late adolescence to early adulthood were investigated, a period that may either increase vulnerability to radicalization or promote maturation and prosocial development. Using longitudinal data from a cohort study in Zürich, Switzerland (n…
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Former Extremists in Radicalization and Counter-Radicalization Research
In this article, the authors examine how in past studies related to radicalization and counter-radicalization the experiences of former extremists have been used to inform the understanding of such issues. For this purpose, empirical research on radicalization and counter-radicalization that incorporates formers in the research designs…
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Hate Speech Epidemic. The Dynamic Effects of Derogatory Language on Intergroup Relations and Political Radicalization
In this article, the way how exposure to derogatory language targeting immigrants and minority groups contributes to political radicalization and deteriorates intergroup relations is discussed. The psychological processes underlying both the effects of hate speech and its proliferation in contemporary societies are considered, as well as…
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Prevalence and Psychological Effects of Hateful Speech in Online College Communities
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of hateful speech within college communities, where such speech can have particularly harmful psychological and social consequences. Regulating hateful speech on college campuses raises complex socio-political challenges, making it essential to assess both how widespread the phenomenon…