Youth organisations across Europe are stepping up to help young people become critical consumers and responsible producers of digital content. A new comparative study has explored how youth NGOs in Finland, Norway and Romania are building their capacity to teach media literacy as a tool for civic engagement. The findings were published in the Nordic Journal of Comparative and International Education.
Young people today face a complex media environment, making it increasingly important that they develop the skills to evaluate, create and engage with digital content meaningfully. According to the study, while all three countries share a common understanding of what media literacy involves, including technical, critical and ethical competencies, their strategies differ significantly based on local contexts and government relationships.
In Romania, NGOs are taking a leading role in educating young people, often stepping in where public education has not provided adequate support. With limited formal media education in schools, these organisations work directly with youth by offering hands-on training that focuses on recognising and challenging disinformation. Romanian NGOs also partner with businesses to provide entrepreneurial experiences, helping young people develop skills that promote both personal development and civic responsibility.
Finland presents a different approach. NGOs in this context act as facilitators by supporting professionals such as teachers and youth workers. Their work is closely aligned with national media education strategies and is supported by public policy. Finnish organisations focus on safe media practices while encouraging young people to explore the creative and participatory aspects of digital media through community-based projects.
In Norway, youth organisations tend to grow from grassroots efforts and are often led by young people themselves. Although some previously worked directly with youth, many now concentrate on helping other NGOs build their own media literacy programmes, particularly in countries where such education is less established. Norwegian projects encourage active content creation and critical thinking, treating digital media as a space for self-expression and democratic participation rather than as a risk to be managed.
The study found that the term “youth organisation” means different things depending on the political and educational environment in each country. In Romania, NGOs often work independently from the government and address issues that public institutions do not cover. In Finland, organisations operate within a well-established media education framework. In Norway, NGOs find it difficult to influence public education, which already considers media literacy to be part of its curriculum.
Despite these variations, all three countries share a commitment to helping young people become more engaged and informed citizens. Whether through direct education, professional training or international cooperation, youth organisations are playing a vital role in preparing the next generation to participate in civic life.
