Fifteen young people from different parts of BiH participated in the first media literacy debate camp that ended earlier this week in Tešanj, organised by Mediacentar Sarajevo and JabihEU. During the three-day training, young people underwent intensive preparations for debate participation with the help of moderators and had the opportunity to learn about hate speech and dissemination of misinformation on the Internet, as well as existing mechanisms and tools for regulating content on the Internet and social networks.

 

"This is the first time I have encountered this type of camp and debate in general as a form of dialogue. I think that this is an exceptional opportunity and a way for young people in BiH to get acquainted with the abuse of social networks and the abuse of media space. I believe that this is one of the most important forms of communication in the 21st century and that this is one of the best forms for acquiring oratory skills and other skills," said Jovana Mišikić, a second-year student at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of East Sarajevo from Brčko.

 

Research has shown that online media and social networks are the most important source of information to young people in BiH and that people aged 18-24 spend four hours online on average. However, according to the camp participants, their peers are not acquainted with the rules of moderation on social networks and harmful online content.

 

The introduction to the debate consisted of a theoretical basis on how harmful content on social networks, such as spreading hatred and misinformation, can encourage social polarisation which further leads to the radicalisation of attitudes of individuals and groups. Also, the participants of the camp saw through examples, exercises and case studies how much the democratisation of access to information has enabled anyone to become a source of information and thus realised how harmful this content that promotes additional values and expectations can be for young people and the society.

 

Mihaela Daradan, a graduate psychologist from Derventa and one of the camp participants, says that young people in BiH spend most of their free time on social networks, but that they are poorly media literate and do not know the rules of social networks. "If we do not know the rules and terms of using social networks, we do not know what our rights and obligations are," she said.

 

The responsibility lies not only with those who follow certain content on social networks, but also with those who create it, according to Sanin Bašić, a second-year IT student at the International Burch University, who has his own YouTube channel. He says it is also important that YouTubers have a responsibility to the public and do not spread harmful content on the Internet.

 

"I believe that the abuse of social networks, media space in BiH has really reached its peak in this part of Europe and the world, and that we may be the nation that is at the forefront of wrong use and approach to social networks," Bašić claims.

The last day of the camp ended with a final debate during which the participants demonstrated the acquired skills of debating and using arguments on topics in the field of media environment today and media literacy.

 

"Because social networks carry huge issues and huge consequences for our society, we should further educate ourselves in this sector, primarily in order to protect our safety and the safety of our loved ones," said Belmin Delić, one of the camp participants from Sarajevo.

 

The media literacy debate camp in Tešanj is the first of six planned to be held in different parts of BiH. The camps are held as part of the project "Youth for Better Media" funded by the European Union, and jointly implemented by Mediacentar Sarajevo and JabihEU.