New Toolkit Available: Empowering Youth in Media Literacy and Critical Thinking on Social Media Influencers
We’re excited to announce the launch of a brand-new educational resource:
Toolkit for empowering youngsters in critical thinking and media literacy for prevention of negative impact of social media influencers.
This practical and comprehensive toolkit is part of the Erasmus+ project “Creative youth work on prevention of negative impact of social media influencers on youth,” coordinated by Outreach Hannover e.V. and implemented in partnership with organisations from Estonia, Serbia, Italy, France, and Croatia.
Why this toolkit?
Social media influencers play an increasingly powerful role in shaping young people’s attitudes, self-image, and lifestyle expectations. While many influencers promote positivity and motivation, others contribute to unrealistic standards and mental health challenges among youth. This toolkit is designed to help youth workers address this influence head-on – by equipping young people with critical thinking skills and media literacy tools.
What’s inside?
Part I: Concepts and Recommendations
Theoretical grounding on the social, psychological, and cultural impact of social media influencers, as well as tips for building resilience and healthy digital habits among youth.
Part II: 10 Practical Workshops
A set of creative, ready-to-use non-formal education sessions covering key topics like:
- Unrealistic standards and social comparison
- Online data protection and privacy
- Deepfakes and AI-generated content
- Influencer economy and ethical questions
- Positive use of influence for social good
Educational Escape Game
An engaging, low-cost escape game designed to spark reflection and teamwork while tackling key media literacy themes.
Who is it for?
This toolkit is ideal for youth workers, educators, and trainers working with young people aged 13–25. It can be applied in workshops, youth exchanges, schools, or informal settings and requires no previous expert-level knowledge – just a willingness to engage and support critical reflection.
Why it matters
The toolkit supports youth work practice in tackling the influence of social media on self-image, identity, and decision-making, while also advocating for the responsible use of digital tools. It also aligns with EU strategies such as the Digital Services Act and the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children.
Download the Toolkit
The toolkit is available in English and 6 more languages to support local youth work across Europe.
📥 [Download the Toolkit PDF – English version]
📥 [Download the Toolkit PDF – Estonian language version]
📥 [Download the Toolkit PDF – German language version]
📥 [Download the Toolkit PDF – French language version]
📥 [Download the Toolkit PDF – Italian language version]
📥 [Download the Toolkit PDF – Croatian language version]
📥 [Download the Toolkit PDF – Serbian language version]
📚 Learn more about the project: CLICK HERE