The virtual world exposes young people and children to a variety of dangers, including online radicalization and violent extremism.
The increase in cases of online radicalization (internet-assisted terrorist radicalism) and functional illiteracy (about 50% of Albanian youth are functionally illiterate) are some of the main causes that have made young people easily manipulated and fall prey to networks of violent extremism.
Young people aged 15-25, whether or not they practice their religion, are especially at risk.
Në kuadër të projektit pilot “Be Aware – Youth For Media Lietarcy”, mbështetur nga Fondacioni Rinor Evropian, Shoqata Together for Life ka zhvilluar takime ndërgjegjësuese me të rinjtë në Dibër. Qëllimi i këtij projekti është promovimi i edukimit mediatik tek shkollat dhe nxitja e mendimit kritik tek të rinjtë, si një nga mënyrat kryesore për parandalimin e radikalizimit online dhe çdo formë manipulimi në internet, lajmet e rreme, dezinformimi, propaganda.
20 të rinj nga Dibra janë trajnuar nga ekspertët e kontraktuar nga TFL gjatë një punëtorie 5-ditore, ku përmes metodave të ndryshme jo-formale, diskutime në grup, kuize, të rinjtë janë informuar mbi tema si: radikalizimi online, dezinformimi, propaganda, si të zbulojmë lajmin e rremë/ mjete për kontrollin e fakteve, procedurat e përdorura nga grupet ekstremiste për manipulimin e të rinjve etj
Young people receive information from a wide range of media sources (text messages, social networks, games, videos, etc.). All of these types of media have one thing in common: someone created the message and had a reason for doing so.
Recent incidents of violent extremism in Albania have raised concerns about the opportunities that the internet and social networks provide for extremist groups of all kinds to freely spread hatred and incitement to violence and to find an audience among vulnerable youth. Internet-aided terrorist radicalism is becoming more and more disturbing.
Young people also had the opportunity to meet with representatives of religious faiths in Dibër, to understand and discuss that extremist groups have nothing to do with religious believers.
On the fifth day of training
Proactive community engagement is essential in early identification of signs of radicalism, treatment, and intervention before radicalization has taken full shape. Indifference and disengagement harm vulnerable young people and especially the community.
Young people trained by the project staff have held informative meetings with peers to get acquainted with some of the techniques used by extremist groups for manipulation, how to confirm and verify news and posts on social networks, how to distinguish propaganda from misinformation / misinformation .
