• Priority Area Media and Information Literacy for Citizens Empowerment
• Year 2024, 2025
• Country Bulgaria, Germany, Spain
• Project Status Ongoing

In an era dominated by digital media, misinformation on social networks poses significant challenges, particularly affecting young audiences detached from traditional journalistic media. The Teen Fact-Checking Network (TFCN) Europe aims to empower teenagers with the skills to navigate and critically evaluate information, fostering media literacy and contributing to a well-informed democratic society.

The TFCN, successfully launched in the USA in 2019 and proven effective in various countries, offers a peer-to-peer model that resonates with teenagers. The essence of the concept is that teenagers, with support from professionals, act as fact-checkers, produce videos in which they expose misinformation and provide relevant media literacy tips. These videos are not only widely distributed on social networks and websites but are also provided to educational institutions.

Initially, TFCN Europe will be launched in three countries by the consortium partners who are already experienced with this concept. These partners are dpa in Germany, Verificat in Spain, and Teach for Bulgaria & Factcheck.bg in Bulgaria. As the project progresses, we will add three partners who are new to TFCN: Faktabaari in Finland, Poligrafo in Portugal, and Digitaler Kompass/BAIT in Austria. International meetings with the teenagers will foster a sense of community and shared purpose among participants.

To promote sustainability and simplify the further expansion of the network, we are developing a TFCN Europe playbook, covering everything from the initial idea to implementation, potential pitfalls, and reporting.

The consortium will be supported by MediaWise from the Poynter Institute, the founder of TFCN US. This partnership will leverage MediaWise’s expertise to enhance the visibility and adaptability of TFCN Europe within the global fact-checking network IFCN.