Shaping the Future: Google & FAD Join Forces to Foster Responsible Digital Citizens

In today’s digital age, information travels faster than ever before. But with this ease of access comes a hidden danger: misinformation. Fake news, online manipulation, and hate speech can pose a significant threat to young people, impacting their ability to form responsible digital habits and critical thinking skills.

This is where Surfear la Red (Surfing the Net) comes in. This innovative Spanish educational project, launched in 2019 by Fad Juventud with the support of Google.org, is making waves in its fight against misinformation. With a renewed commitment for the next two years, the initiative aims to train a staggering 100,000 young people between the ages of 9 and 18 in critical thinking and media literacy.

Having already reached over 87,000 young people since its inception, Surfear la Red boasts impressive results. Today, I had the opportunity to attend the project’s presentation event, “Training Critical Adolescents in the Digital Age,” held at Google for Startups Campus Madrid. The event, which brought together key figures in education and technology, highlighted the project’s impactful strategies and upcoming plans.

Empowering Young Minds: A Multi-Faceted Approach

Surfear la Red employs a multi-faceted approach to tackle misinformation, catering to different age groups with engaging and effective tools.

For pre-adolescents aged 9 to 12, the project utilizes “Sé genial en Internet” (Be Great on the Internet). This initiative delivers workshops in primary schools, promoting respectful, critical, safe, and responsible use of digital tools. Through a user-friendly website and interactive games, participants learn the fundamentals of good digital citizenship from a young age.

For teenagers aged 12 to 18, Surfear la Red offers more advanced programs. Eraser is a gamified program designed to educate adolescents in critical thinking and media literacy. This program equips them with the skills to discern between factual information and misleading content, while also empowering them to create their own digital content in a responsible and accurate manner.

Furthermore, Fakesover, a digital card game developed with the support of Newtral, utilizes gamification to educate young people about the mechanics of fake news and misinformation. This engaging game allows players to learn the tell-tale signs of misinformation and develop strategies to identify it online.

Looking ahead, Surfear la Red plans to launch three pre-bunking campaigns on social networks aimed at young people. These campaigns will focus on raising awareness about the manipulative tactics used online, rather than simply debunking specific falsehoods, aiming for a more proactive approach to combat misinformation.

Equipping Educators and Families: Building a Support System

Surfear la Red recognizes that fostering a safe and informed online environment requires a collaborative effort. The project incorporates initiatives that empower not only young people but also educators and families.

For teachers, “Sé crítico” (Be Critical) provides training in critical thinking, social networks, misinformation, and artificial intelligence. Through online courses, the program equips over 750 teachers across Spain with the necessary skills to guide their students in understanding and analyzing information in the digital age.

Finally, the Shield Project: Ciberinformed Families offers resources to families, empowering them to provide positive and safe digital support for their children. This program, created by Fad Juventud and Disney with the support of Google.org, offers educational content on five key areas: self-regulation, ethical behavior, privacy, hate speech, and digital responsibility.

The success of Surfear la Red lies in its comprehensive approach. By equipping young people with the necessary skills, while simultaneously empowering educators and families, the project is fostering a generation of responsible digital citizens who can navigate the online world with critical thinking and discernment.

As the fight against misinformation continues, Surfear la Red serves as a beacon of hope, paving the way for a more inclusive, fair, and secure internet for everyone.

Building a Brighter Digital Future

Witnessing the event at Google for Startups Campus Madrid left me impressed by the collective effort to combat misinformation. It highlighted Google’s leading role in fostering a responsible and informed online environment, especially for young people.

Google’s dedication to a healthy digital world extends far beyond this specific project. Their commitment is evident through a multitude of initiatives spearheaded by individuals like Annette Kroeber-Riel, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Europe at Google.

Google.org, their philanthropic arm, supports impactful projects around the world. The Google News Initiative collaborates directly with publishers and journalists to combat misinformation, share resources, and foster innovation. Initiatives like Subscribe with Google and News Lab empower publishers and creators to thrive in the digital age. Additionally, Fact Check helps users identify reliable information online. These are just a few examples of Google’s extensive efforts to support quality journalism.

It’s clear that Google recognizes the importance of a well-informed citizenry, especially in the face of upcoming elections. By equipping young people with critical thinking skills and fostering media literacy, Google is laying the groundwork for a future where responsible digital habits are the norm.

A special thanks to Annette Kroeber-Riel and her team at Google for their dedication to this crucial cause. We are all stakeholders in creating a safe and informed online environment. Initiatives like those championed by Google pave the way for a brighter digital future. As we face important elections in the coming years, fostering critical citizens is more important than ever. By working together, we can ensure a future where information is a tool for empowerment, not manipulation.

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