Youth Empowered Against Disinformation and Extremism

As part of broader efforts aligned with the Smidge Project’s objectives, a dynamic youth workshop was held in Gjakova, Kosovo, bringing together 25 students from the University of "Fehmi Agani" to explore the growing challenges of radicalization, extremism, and disinformation.

Organized by the NGO Activism Roots under the project “Local Youth in Action – Gjakova Region,” and supported by GCERF and ATRC, the session aimed to equip young people with the tools and knowledge to identify and resist harmful online content and manipulation.

The workshop featured an in-depth presentation focused on unpacking the interconnected threats of radicalization and disinformation, with a sharp focus on how social media serves as both a battleground and a solution space. The presentation offered actionable strategies for youth to become proactive defenders of truth in their communities.

A key highlight of the session included insights from the SMIDGE project, particularly findings from the reports’ D4.6 - Progress report on data scraping extremist content’ and ‘D4.1 – Progress Report on Social Network Analysis and Text Analysis’. These reports provided a deep dive into the online spread of extremist content through data scraping, social network mapping, and text analysis. Participants discussed how memes and viral narratives often serve as vehicles for manipulation, targeting emotional vulnerabilities and exploiting algorithmic blind spots.

By engaging directly with Smidge’s research, participants saw first-hand how academic findings can inform grassroots action. The event reflects a growing commitment in the region to involve youth in countering toxic digital narratives, and to foster critical thinking in an era increasingly defined by online influence.