Handbook for Youth Workers Working in the Field of Digital Safety

Introduction and context

The handbook was developed within the Erasmus+ project Prevention of Youth Risky Viral Trends, which focuses on reducing risks associated with young people's use of social networks. The project aims to strengthen digital readiness and resilience, improve the quality of youth work and promote active and responsible citizenship.

Social networks are treated as environments for communication, learning and content creation but also as spaces where privacy, mental well-being, security and social relationships may be threatened. The handbook therefore goes beyond simple risk avoidance and focuses on informed, critical and responsible participation in digital environments.

Aim

The overall aim is to reduce gaps in young people's knowledge, skills and understanding of their online experiences, perceptions, actions and coping options. The specific aim is to provide youth workers, teachers and other educators with proactive training programmes, methods and practical activities for preventing and limiting everyday online risks.

Evidence and methodological foundation

The handbook is built on three preceding project outputs: research on current risks among young social-media users; research on contemporary prevention methods; and the project methodology for prevention of social-media risks.

The training programmes therefore draw on desk research, international good practices, platform and trend analysis, survey evidence from 392 young people in the partner countries, and synthesis through classification and triangulation. Practical activities are consequently grounded in both research evidence and observed youth behaviour.

Fourteen training programmes

The handbook contains 14 stand-alone training programmes covering:

1. risks in social networks;
2. digital media literacy;
3. critical thinking;
4. fake news and disinformation;
5. personal-data protection;
6. safe and positive communication;
7. online harassment;
8. digital reputation and digital identity;
9. mental health and online well-being, including social-media addiction;
10. positive online participation;
11. social exclusion and isolation;
12. dangerous viral trends;
13. influencers;
14. digital citizenship and digital responsibility.

Each programme combines conceptual explanation with a practical learning module using exercises, games, cases, role-play, group discussion and other educational and psychological techniques.

Target groups and practical use

The primary users are young people aged 14–29, youth workers, teachers, trainers, counsellors and other professionals involved in non-formal education and youth work. Some activities can also be adapted for younger students.

The handbook is intentionally flexible and can be adapted to different training contexts. Particular emphasis is placed on peer-to-peer learning, needs assessment, active learner participation and integration of theory with realistic online situations.

From digital safety to digital intelligence

The handbook supports shared understanding of online risk, privacy and digital rights, critical evaluation of content, ethical behaviour and informed decisions about sharing and interacting online.

Its broader objective is the development of digital intelligence: a combination of social, emotional and cognitive capacities for navigating digital life. The concluding framework links digital identity, digital use, digital safety, digital security, digital emotional intelligence, digital communication, digital literacy and digital rights.

Main contributions

• translates prior research into ready-to-use educational programmes;
• integrates online safety, mental health, privacy, misinformation and citizenship within one training resource;
• supports youth workers with practical activities rather than only theoretical guidance;
• uses participatory and peer-learning approaches suited to non-formal education;
• connects risk prevention with the broader development of digital intelligence and responsible citizenship.

Conclusions

The handbook offers a structured practical framework for youth work in a context where digital risks and opportunities are inseparable from everyday life. By combining prevention, education, critical thinking, mental well-being and responsible digital citizenship, it aims not only to reduce harm but to develop durable competencies for meaningful participation in the digital world.

Scientific Key Terms