The SMIDGE Project Launches the SMIDGE MOOC Platform: Advancing Media Literacy and Countering Online Extremism

The SMIDGE Project has officially launched the SMIDGE MOOC Platform, a comprehensive online learning platform designed to strengthen media literacy and counter online extremism. The platform is the result of the dedicated work and collaboration of Fondazione Villa Montesca, one of the partners of the SMIDGE Project, which has developed an educational tool to address the growing challenges of misinformation and digital radicalisation in contemporary society.

The SMIDGE MOOC Platform offers journalists, security analysts, educators, and other professionals an advanced and engaging training experience focused on media literacy, disinformation, and the social impact of digital narratives, with particular attention to middle-aged citizens.

Through interactive modules and applied learning, the platform explores how media systems shape public opinion, how online environments foster manipulation and extremism, and how responsible communication can strengthen democratic values. Its goal is to equip participants with analytical skills, fact-checking techniques, and ethical awareness to navigate and respond effectively to the challenges of today’s complex media landscape.

The course consists of twelve training units and a section of in-depth materials. The learning path begins with the foundations of media literacy and the mechanisms of news manipulation, then examines the dynamics of disinformation, online radicalization, and the political and economic structures of media ecosystems. It also investigates how social media architectures and cognitive biases influence how individuals interpret information.

Other modules explore journalism ethics and the moral responsibilities of media professionals in confronting falsehoods and extremist narratives. The final units focus on strategic storytelling as a method to counter extremism, as well as the use of advanced verification techniques such as OSINT, SOCMINT, and data journalism to ensure transparency and credibility in communication. 

The SMIDGE MOOC Platform is not only a training resource but also a broader educational initiative to strengthen resilience against misinformation and promote ethical, evidence-based communication.