Misinformation, online safety, and the influence of social media are among the topics addressed by the winners of the “Video(s)cool: create and inform!” contest
“In a world oversaturated with information, you need a superpower to discern between truth and lies,” “Choose to be a voice that seeks, not just one that repeats,” “An informed person is harder to manipulate,” “Don’t believe everything you see online. Get informed!”. “The truth is not afraid of verification. Truth connects!“ – these are just some of the key messages from the winners of the ”Video(s)cool: create and inform!” competition, who produced educational videos demonstrating that media literacy can be engaging and necessary.
The products were designed for social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) with the aim of contributing to the development of critical thinking and promoting responsible consumption of information among young people. Thus, during April-May, 37 high school students enrolled in the competition created 50 video products, which they promoted on their personal accounts and/or those of the institutions where they study.
According to the participants, the competition was more than just a challenge, providing them with a good opportunity to express their ideas in a creative way and develop their communication and video editing skills. The young people passed through all the stages of making a video (concept, script, filming, editing), demonstrating that they can analyze the digital world, understand the dangers of disinformation, and create content that matters. Through their videos, the authors warn their peers that they can be tricked by fake news, explain what disinformation is and how we can be manipulated by artificial intelligence techniques. The young people also urge their peers to check information from official sources.
First, second, and third prize winners
“I want to inform others about how important it is to know the rules of conduct in the online space in order to be correctly informed and responsible,” says Laura Goreanu, an 11th grade student at the “Gheorghe Palade” Theoretical High School in Puhoi, Ialoveni district, winner of first prize in the “Video(s)cool: create and inform!” competition. The winner presented a video about disinformation, through which she wants to promote a safe online environment.
“I have participated in this competition to tell others that it is not right to accept everything you see on the Internet. Try to become a detective of the truth and turn your daily scroll into something that makes a difference,“ says Ana Berzan, a student in the 11th grade at the ”Nicolae Donici“ Theoretical High School in the village of Dubăsarii Vechi, Criuleni district, winner of second place in the ”Video(s)cool: create and inform!” competition. Together with several classmates, Ana produced three videos, through which she draws attention to the fact that “One extra click can save you from a lie”; “Don’t like blindly. Be careful what you share and what you follow. The internet is full of traps!“; ”Not everything you see online is true. Critical thinking is the superpower that helps you tell the difference between reality and manipulation!”. The videos developed by Ana and her team can be viewed: HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Constanța Neaga, Mirela Mocan, and Bianca-Lavinia Darie, 11th grade students at the ”Onisifor Ghibu“ Theoretical High School in Chișinău, took third place in the “Video(s)cool: create and inform!” competition. Through their video, the girls highlight that “an informed person is harder to manipulate,” offering other tips on how to avoid falling into the trap of online fake news.
Six honorable mentions were also awarded during the contest
In addition to the three main prizes awarded in the competition, the jury members also awarded six honorable mentions, thus managing to recognize the efforts of a larger number of high school students than initially planned. The winners of the honorable mentions also addressed complex topics related to online safety, disinformation, and the influence of social networks.
“The competition challenges me to better understand the phenomenon of disinformation and to inspire others to play an active role in combating and deconstructing false narratives,” says Alexandra Bulat, a 10th grade student at the “Aristotel” Republican Theoretical High School in Chișinău, while her classmate, Mihai Bîlba admits that the most important reason for his involvement in the contest is “the fact that he has been a victim of the spread of false information”. The videos produced by Alexandra and Mihai can be viewed HERE and HERE.
“Disinformation doesn’t just lie to you. It ruins families, turns friends against each other, destroys lives. You decide what you consider to be true and what you ignore, and then you endure the consequences,” says Alexandru Talasimov, a 12th grade student at the same high school, who urges everyone to check news from multiple sources before deciding whether it is true and can be shared. “Unverified news can mislead us. Let’s think critically, analyze, and protect ourselves. Let’s be on the side of truth. Truth doesn’t need filters!” says Alexandru in his animation for the contest.
The multitude of online issues facing young people today was also an incentive for Anastasia Curbet, a 12th grade student at the “Aristotel” Republican Theoretical High School in Chișinău, to enter the competition. “We are not just consumers of content. Think before you click! Ask before you share! The fight between truth and misinformation starts with you!” says the author of the video.
“Check before you share. Sometimes, you may be the only barrier between the truth and a viral lie,” warns Maria-Daniela Golban, a 10th grade student at the “Miron Costin” Theoretical High School in Florești, in the video presented at the competition.
In their materials, the students offered various solutions for not allowing themselves to be misinformed and for thinking critically in any situation. For example, Nichita Velijenco, a 11th grade student at the “A. Puskin” Theoretical High School in Fălești, presents simple examples of how we can be deceived or manipulated through artificial intelligence and offers clear tips to help us understand that the information we have accessed cannot be true.
“In the digital age, information is just a click away, but so is misinformation. Be vigilant! Don’t believe everything you see at first glance. Check the information from reliable sources. Only in this way we can be better informed and stronger. The truth needs you. Don’t let it be drowned out by noise. Think critically. Get the facts right. Protect the truth!” This is the message conveyed in the video produced by Adriana Gonța and Stanislav Straciuc, both 10th grade students at Vocational School No. 6 in Chișinău.
Viorica Zaharia, a member of the jury, said that the participants showed that they really get the many cases and situations where we need to think critically. “The fact that they had to prepare something for the competition motivated them to discuss ideas and formats together and apply them, and this brought back to their communities the topic of the need to remain vigilant with regard to information. I am sure that such young people will not only avoid sharing dubious content, but will also help others to verify and understand. They are, in this way, messengers of critical thinking,“ says Viorica Zaharia.
In total, 13 high school students from the Republic of Moldova became winners of the ”Video(s)cool: create and inform!” contest. They received diplomas, honorable mentions, and valuable prizes.
The contest was organized in the framework of the project ”Truth Connects: Amplifying Media Literacy and Engaging Youth to Counter Disinformation”, implemented by the IJC and the Moldova School of Journalism. The project is financially supported by Norway, through the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), and the content of the materials developed within the project are the sole responsibility of the IJC and in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Government of Norway.
