In today’s world, false information is used to mislead, provoke, and manipulate public opinion. This is especially true in the context of russia’s war against Ukraine, where disinformation plays a key role in attempts to destabilize societies.
The workshop gave Ukrainian students, who have firsthand experience dealing with disinformation, the opportunity to share their knowledge with their Belarusian peers. The goal was to help both groups develop critical thinking skills and learn practical strategies for identifying misleading content.
Over three days, participants delved into digital security, media manipulation and the mechanisms behind the spread of disinformation. The program featured interactive lectures, seminars on fake news analysis and effective fact-checking tools. It also included simulation games replicating real-life information attack scenarios, allowing participants to practice rapid and efficient verification and analysis of information.
One of the workshop lecturers, Yevhen Mahda, emphasized: “Today, information is not just a resource but a tool of influence. Those who know how to analyse it will not become puppets in someone else’s game.” He also noted that false news spreads faster than the truth because its goal is not to inform but to provoke and manipulate public opinion.
Another lecturer, Tatsiana Lissovskaya, stated: “Media literacy is not just a trendy term—it is an ability that to avoid becoming a victim of information terrorism. Critical thinking is not skepticism—it is the habit of asking questions and verifying information.”
