About the project
The project Creative youth work on prevention of negative impact of social media influencers on youth (YW4pnSMinf) aimed to prevent the negative impact that social media influencers can have on young people. In an era dominated by social platforms, youth workers felt that young people needed better tools to build critical thinking and media literacy and to understand how influencer culture shapes their values and self‑image. The project, coordinated by Outreach Hannover e.V. in Germany, brought together six organisations from Germany, Estonia, Serbia, Italy, France and Croatia.
The project was funded by the European Union through Erasmus+ (Key Action 220 – Cooperation partnerships in youth) under the reference 2023‑1‑DE04‑KA220‑YOU‑000167094. It ran from 1 December 2023 to 31 July 2025 and received a grant of €250,000. The National Agency responsible was JUGEND für Europa (DE04).
Objectives
The partnership pursued three specific objectives:
- Empower youngsters in critical thinking and media literacy by developing a toolkit with innovative workshops and tools.
- Empower youth workers in creativity for preventing negative impacts of social media influencers through a curriculum and training courses.
- Build the capacity of youth workers to advocate for EU standards protecting young people on the internet (e.g., Audiovisual Media Services Directive, Digital Services Act, European strategy for a better Internet for children).
Key activities
- Project management: kick‑off, mid‑term and final evaluation meetings to ensure good coordination and quality management.
- Production of outputs: a Toolkit, Curriculum and Online course, available in seven languages.
- Piloting of the toolkit and online course with young people in each partner country.
- Local training courses where youth workers tested and applied the curriculum in their communities.
- Multiplier events – five national conferences and one international conference disseminating the results.
- Additional dissemination: partners organised meetings, used social media and their websites and networks, and hosted an online hackathon on internet safety and influencer impact.
Project details
Programme: Erasmus+- Key Action: KA220 – Cooperation partnerships in youth
- Action type: Youth
- Reference number: 2023‑1‑DE04‑KA220‑YOU‑000167094
- Duration: 1 December 2023 – 31 July 2025
- EU grant: €250,000
- Countries: Germany, Estonia, Serbia, Italy, France, Croatia
- Funding agency: Jugend für Europa (DE04)
Results and outputs
| Output | Description | Access |
|---|---|---|
| O1 – Toolkit | Toolkit for empowering youngsters in critical thinking and media literacy for prevention of negative impact of social media influencers. This 50‑page resource contains theoretical background, 10 ready‑to‑use workshops and an educational escape‑room game. It helps youth workers run engaging sessions on social media awareness and media literacy. | • English |
| O2 – Curriculum | Curriculum – Empowering youth workers in creative methodology for prevention of negative impact of social media influencers on youth. It provides a structured training course, session plans and recommendations for youth workers. Local training courses using this curriculum were piloted in all six partner countries. | • English |
| O3 – Online course | Youth workers in advocacy action for implementation of European standards for protecting young people on the internet. This self‑paced online course helps youth workers learn about EU regulations (AVMSD, Digital Services Act, Better Internet for Kids) and how to advocate for them. | • multi-language |
Partners
- Outreach Hannover e.V. (Germany) – coordinator; non‑governmental organisation/association/social enterprise
- Learning Library OÜ (Estonia) – SME specialising in digital learning and media literacy
- CNELL – Centar za neformalno obrazovanje i celoživotno učenje (Serbia) – NGO promoting non‑formal education
- LINK DMT s.r.l. (Italy) – SME focusing on digital media training and youth work
- Curiosité Centre de Formation (France) – NGO providing training in communications and media
- Udruga “Ostvarenje” (Croatia) – NGO supporting life skills development
Impact
- Toolkit: youth workers have a practical resource to help youngsters build critical thinking and media literacy.
- Curriculum: training programmes for youth workers in creative methodologies for preventing negative social media influence.
- Online course: advocates for European standards protecting minors on the internet.
- Escape room & workshops: innovative methods such as an escape‑room game engage young people in recognising and resisting negative influences.
- Enhanced networks: partners expanded their networks, cooperating with youth organisations, universities and local authorities.
Dissemination and sustainability
Partners promoted the project through their websites, social media and networks. They created a distinctive project logo and consistently used it across all materials. The toolkit and curriculum are available in seven languages, and partners plan to share all results on the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform, SALTO Youth and EPALE. Local training and multiplier events introduced the resources to youth workers, policy makers and community stakeholders. Further dissemination will occur through networks such as Connect International and Confesercenti Modena. After the project’s end, partners will continue using the outputs in their programmes and offer the online course to new users.
*Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.