From idea to impact: how young people are turning media education into viral content
Over one million views, nearly 100 video materials, and an increasingly active youth community promoting accurate information and critical thinking — these are the key results of the project “Truth Connects: Amplifying Media Literacy and Engaging Youth to Counter Disinformation”, implemented by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) and the Moldova School of Journalism (MSJ) between March and September 2025.
The project began with a series of workshops for young people, organized by the MSJ, where participants learned how to create engaging and educational video content for social media platforms. Guided by mentors, they discovered how to combine creativity with public interest messages to help audiences recognize manipulation and fake news. Six young participants received scholarships to further develop their own ideas, and the results speak for themselves: 42 videos that gathered over 650,000 views on the MSJ’s TikTok and Instagram accounts.
“Disinformation among young people can be effectively countered when well-trained peers speak to each other in a language they understand, explaining how not to fall into the trap of fake news. To reach their audience, the video creators and their mentors showed great creativity in choosing topics, language, and filming techniques. We are delighted that the Ministry of Education and Research has adopted these videos and integrated them into its communication activities, recommending their distribution through the Network of 90 Model Schools across the country,” said Elena Cucu, Project Coordinator at the MSJ.
In parallel, the IJC, through its Mediacritica platform, launched a video campaign aimed at explaining to the public, in accessible language, the main information traps and manipulation techniques encountered online — from using anonymous Telegram channels as “news” sources and the echo chamber phenomenon, to logical fallacies and “phantom” electoral polls. The 42 videos produced as part of this campaign have reached over 516,000 views across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
In total, the content created by the MSJ and IJC has gathered over one million views, confirming the growing public interest in topics related to critical thinking and accurate information.
To further encourage youth engagement, the IJC also organized the competition “Video(s)cool: Create and Inform!”, which brought together 37 high school students from across the country. The participants produced 50 short videos on topics such as online safety, fact-checking, and the importance of critical thinking. The winners were awarded tablets, vouchers, and educational materials.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the many video entries submitted by pupils for this competition. I was once again convinced that we have many talented young people who know how to think critically — and how to inspire others to do the same. Many of the videos were powerful and impactful, and they showed that young people not only understand the current issues facing our society but also know how to express them creatively and responsibly. The students tackled complex topics such as disinformation, online safety, and the influence of social networks. Moreover, they offered solutions and calls to action, encouraging everyone not to be misled and to think critically in all circumstances — something that truly deserves our appreciation,” said Dorina Popovici, teacher at “Da Vinci” Lyceum in Chișinău and member of the competition jury.
All materials produced within the project are available on the social media platforms managed by the IJC and MSJ: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
This material was published within the framework of the project “Truth Connects: Amplifying Media Literacy and Engaging Youth to Counter Disinformation”, implemented by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) and the Moldova School of Journalism (MSJ). The project was supported by Norway, through the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR). The content of the activities and materials produced within the project is the sole responsibility of the Independent Journalism Center and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Norway.
