3 attitudes, 3 approaches: How do people approach misinformation?

16. December 2025

We will soon be closing the second Youth Dialogue Forum digital discussion! Join the discussion today and help us find everyday strategies that will help us all better combat disinformation.

Under the banner of the European Capital of Culture 2028, the Young Creators project was created with the aim of supporting the involvement of young people in culture and social events. Young Creators are also partners of the Youth Dialogue Forum 2025, a project that connects young people from Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. It offers them a space to discuss topics that interest them and come up with their own proposals for change. The discussion will close on 16/12/25!

Young people in the V4 countries deal with misinformation in different ways. However, real change begins with each of us and in our immediate surroundings. Take a look at the preliminary results of the second digital discussion and get involved—you too can influence the shape of the live forum in Krakow!

The digital discussion is in full swing and slowly revealing its first results. Young people approach issues related to misinformation in different ways. Be part of this important debate and express your preferences and ideas! In the meantime, you can see what the discussion has shown us so far.

The question underlying the entire discussion is: What can we do together in our immediate surroundings, both online and offline? 

The aim of this second international discussion is to reveal which strategies help us defend ourselves against misinformation and which do not. Get involved too! Rate 35 opinions and get a chance to participate in a live forum in Krakow (January 23-25, 2026). All expenses will be covered. The discussion is anonymous, and you can vote until December 16, 2025.

From the preliminary results, which already include contributions from over 250 people, we can identify three schools of thought. These groups differ from each other in how they approach misinformation, how confident they feel in exposing it, and what strategies they use. These approaches are contradictory, which is not a bad thing, quite the contrary. Despite the differences, it is all the more important to find out what everyone agrees on.

Group A: The cautious ones

People in this group tend to avoid confrontation. In the online space, they do not seek direct clashes with strangers, especially if the person in question is deliberately provoking them. They also feel that if they speak up and express their opinion, others will be more likely to join in the confrontation. At the same time, however, they would welcome more opportunities to practice this skill in order to gradually build the confidence they need to engage in conflicts.

Group B: Carefree communicators

People in this group believe in their ability to deal with misinformation. When discussions become too heavy, they can bring lightness and humor to the situation, even using memes and jokes to reduce emotional tension. At the same time, they realize that humor has its limits in certain situations, as it rarely convinces anyone or changes their opinion.

Group C: Confident actors

Members of this group feel confident and communicate directly. They actively engage in confrontations and feel that when they respond to misinformation, people around them will begin to notice the issue. Their confidence stems from a sense that they can distinguish truth from falsehood and defend their position.

These three different approaches can be a source of conflict. Some avoid arguments, others defuse them with humor, and still others dive headfirst into the situation to resolve it. Despite these differences, there is general agreement.

What unites the groups and what can they all agree on?

In our efforts to tackle misinformation, we can see that there is consensus across countries and among different groups of young people that combating misinformation is not about "winning" the debate. Rather, it is about creating a space where people feel safe enough to listen, rethink their opinions, and speak honestly. The more people get involved, the clearer the common solutions that emerge from the discussion.

Participants agree that better conversations start with simple expressions of civility and warmth, and that consciously appreciating the good work of others builds trust in any group. Encouraging friends to verify facts helps individual communities stay grounded and truthful. Meanwhile, honest questions can open the door for others to new perspectives and invite them to reflect on what they actually believe.

To create a safe space where people can admit uncertainty, it is necessary to approach them in a friendly and warm manner. Many say we need more spaces where it's okay to say, "I'm not sure if that's true," without fear of judgment. At the same time, sharing our own experiences helps everyone cultivate healthier habits.

Calm communication enables honest conversations. One recurring insight is clear: change begins with small personal decisions, such as only saying what we would say to others face to face, with the idea that we are part of a supportive community that makes it easier to express our opinions.

These are the most important messages from our discussion so far. We all entered the discussion with different opinions, but we can already see a solid foundation for cooperation. How will the discussion develop in the coming days? Join the discussion and let's meet at the live forum in Krakow!

Got questions? Great! Check out the links below.

Project parts:

Last year, over 700 young people took part in the project, and this year we want to reach up to 2,000 participants. To make this happen, we are looking for local ambassadors who will play a key role in the project.