This year’s MLA4MedLit one-day online conference, taking place on Friday, 17th October, “Building Societal Resilience through Digital and Media Literacy for Everyone” takes its lead from a growing recognition that the very health of our democracies depends on an informed and engaged citizenry. At a time when digital platforms shape public debate and the flow of information, understanding how to participate, communicate, and exercise rights online is more critical than ever. The right to access media literacy is no longer simply a question for the educational sector, but one that affects society as a whole.
Knowing how to manage our media environment, particularly in a world increasingly dominated by AI, requires cross-sector collaboration and a significant increase in resources and attention, bringing together activists, policy-makers and practitioners.
This year’s event will bring together educators, teachers, researchers, policy makers, civil society actors, media professionals, fact-checkers, public authorities, and private sector stakeholders to explore the opportunities and challenges of promoting media literacy throughout society, placing it at the heart of what it means to be a digital citizen.
Inspired by the Council of Europe’s European Year of Digital Citizenship Education, this year’s conference will address three key themes:
- Being online: understanding and mastering the mechanisms of communication and interaction in the digital space.
- Well-being online: protecting mental and physical health, fostering balance, and ensuring personal safety in digital environments.
- Rights online: knowing and asserting your rights, respecting those of others, and acting ethically and responsibly.
Through keynote talks, panel debates, and case-based exchanges, participants will tackle issues such as misinformation and disinformation, social media regulation, online polarisation, toxic online cultures, and the rise of AI-driven tools. The conference will highlight innovative practices, research insights, and cross-sector collaborations that can strengthen democratic resilience, individual well-being, and civic participation in an increasingly digital society.
