Youth Connect Training Day 2: Digital Citizenship and Misinformation Resilience Project
The "Youth Connect: Digital Citizenship and Misinformation Resilience" training continued its impactful journey on Day 2, shifting focus from self-identity to the broader responsibilities of online existence. Held at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), the sessions engaged participants in complex discussions on gender, digital rights, and online etiquette.
The day’s curriculum was designed to transform students from passive internet users into active, responsible digital citizens, equipping them with the analytical tools needed to navigate the digital landscape safely.
The sessions were facilitated by a dedicated team of experts who guided the participants through the day's rigorous modules. In one room, the training was led by Syeda Sadia Mehejabin (Senior Lecturer), Tahseen Nower (Lecturer), and Usama Rafid (Lecturer) while in the other, the sessions were guided by Dewan Shahnoor Alam Sourav (Lecturer), Md. Aminul Islam (Senior Lecturer) and Rydwanul Islam (Fact Checker Fact Watch)
The morning began at 9:00 am with a re-grouping session, followed by the 9:30 am session on "Understanding Gender & Sex." Utilizing a Concept Matrix, participants explored concepts such as "Gender Stereotype" and "Gender-Based Violence," learning to identify unequal treatment and biases in everyday and digital life.
At 10:00 am, the "Digital Citizenship" session defined the concept as the capacity to participate "actively, continuously and responsibly" in communities through "competent and positive engagement". Participants analyzed the "Nine elements of digital citizenship"—comprising Digital Access, Commerce, Communication, Etiquette, Fluency/Literacy, Health/Welfare, Law, Rights/Responsibilities, and Security/Privacy—before culminating the session by drafting a personal "My Digital Citizenship Charter" to commit to specific actions like "communicating politely" and "respecting other's opinions".
From 11:00 am to 11:30 am, the participants took a Tea/Coffee Break, providing an opportunity to network and recharge before the subsequent sessions. The "Digital Media Literacy" session at 11:30 am saw students engaging in a deep dive into approximately nine topics related to digital media and literature. The interactive discussion encouraged participants to elaborate on their thoughts regarding media consumption, helping them develop frameworks to critically analyze the vast amounts of information they encounter daily.
After lunch at 1:00 pm, the 2:00 pm session on "Digital Etiquette" featured a dynamic group debate. Participants were divided into three groups to investigate the relationship between media and behavior: the first group explored if digital media shapes ethics; the second examined if ethics shape digital media; and the third investigated if they are complementary. Discussion points included following "Non-Discriminatory Gender Norms," such as using inclusive language and seeking consent before sharing photos.
From 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm, a "Break+ Energizer" session took place, providing a refreshing interval to reinvigorate participants before the final module of the day. After the break at 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, the "Digital Safety And Digital Rights" session employed a practical approach by assigning five specific cases to five groups for plenary presentations, fostering collaborative problem-solving regarding online safety scenarios. The session concluded with students reinforcing their security commitment by pledging to "protect my accounts with strong passwords and avoid sharing personal information".
The day ended with a reflection session at 5:30 pm, marking the successful completion of the second day of training.
