International Day of DemocracyMedia literacy strengthens democracy
The International Day of Democracy was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. Since then, every year on September 15, many activities around the world have set an example for strengthening and upholding the principles of democracy.
All information on the International Day of Democracy and this year's focus on the importance and impact of artificial intelligence for democracy can be found at www.un.org/en/observances/democracy-day.
What does media use have to do with democracy?
A study involving the Max Planck Institute for Human Development shows that some key factors change with the use of digital media and have an influence on democracy. These include factors such as participation, political knowledge, trust and polarization. According to a finding of the 2022 study, digital media can promote political knowledge and contribute to a more diverse range of information. In addition, the various opportunities for political participation via online media motivate people to take part in democratic elections.
However, there is also evidence of negative effects. For example, users of social media services tend to inform themselves less actively as they assume that they will automatically receive all important information (known as the "news-find-me" effect). Growing populism, which is spread via online media in particular, is also damaging trust in politics, democratic institutions and traditional media.
Empower children and young people for democracy
The internet is a place where children and young people can quickly come into contact with anti-democratic content, particularly throughfake news, disinformation andextremist movements. Accordingly, young people need to be aware of the dangers to democracy on the internet and deal with news competently. On the other hand, they need to be inspired by the many opportunities for democratic participation.
You can read about how accompanying democracy education can succeed in various klicksafe materials and topics on this website.
Further information and materials from klicksafe
Subject areas
In the topic areas listed below you will find a lot of further information about fake news, deep fakes and the effects of disinformation on young people.
Materials for educational practice
Our teaching materials address current social problems and aim to empower young people. #fitfordemocracy is a station work for lessons that is designed to reach and engage young people in their everyday lives. Topics and situations from young people's everyday analog and digital lives are addressed at various "training stations". Creativity and humor are used to convey the joy of democracy and community. The klicksafe handbook "Ethik macht klick. Opinion-forming in the digital world" provides insights into the information behavior of young people, offers assistance in analyzing and recognizing disinformation strategies and shows the effects of misinformation on a democratic society.
Quizzes
Young people can put their knowledge of democracy to the test in four klicksafe quizzes. They can be used in school lessons or played together with parents to approach the topic together and discuss the questions. Offline versions are available for download so that the quizzes can also be used without an internet connection.
Explanatory films
klicksafe 2022 published two videos on the topic of "Fit for democracy, strong for society". In them, Jokah Tululu and Gardinia Borto give young people an insight into their personal views on the topic of democracy. Both are known for their successful social media channels. While Jokah mainly comments on the corrosive effect of hate and hate speech, Gardinia gives good reasons for a courageous commitment to freedom and diversity in democracy.
