medialepfade.org

non-profit-organization for media education

Civic Education in Third Spaces

Involving Young People Through Digital Media

We advocate for an open, just, and solidarity-based digital society. Through participatory educational formats, we empower children, adolescents, and multipliers to critically question and shape digital technologies independently. We analyze digital power structures, expose misinformation, and develop innovative concepts for equitable access to media and education. Our work is open, experimental, and practice-oriented – always with the goal of strengthening political maturity and societal participation.

Non-Profit Organization

Founded in 2014

Based in Berlin

25 employees

2 locations in Berlin

Our Vision

media education center Lichtenberg

What is a third space?

not home (first place), not school or work (second place) – but a free, public space where you don't need to buy anything, perform anything, or justify your presence

Neutral ground
no obligation, no authority structure it belongs to

leveller
creates conditions where people can mix across differerences

playful mood
conversation, not competition or performance

Social glue of a community

What is a third space?

Libraries ARE third spaces

How do we activate its potential for young people?

Libraries are low-threshold and inclusive – open to everyone

no need to purchasing anything or defending their worldview

for young people – study, browse, meet peers, try something new – without evaluation or assessment

no judgement

open to the wealthy and the poor, the devout and secular, the activist and apolitical.

open

experiment

inclusive

Third places build social capital – especially for marginalised youth

experience support, community, recognition

Participation promotion of social competence through participation

presence and space

social networks and sense of belonging

Space

Participation

Interest

Belonging

Libraries are spaces of democratic education and co-creation

meaningful interaction and trust (in times of diverse and fragmented societies

from repositories of information into inclusive, non-commercial public spaces that support social interaction, emotional wellbeing, and civic engagement.

trust

interaction

well-being

civic engagement

Libraries as Make-Spaces - from consumption to creation

a place to try, to break, to repair, to build

from repositories of information into inclusive, non-commercial public spaces that support social interaction, emotional wellbeing, and civic engagement.

permission to fail and try again

MakerSpaces are

Media Labs

podcast studio

Video creation

game development

Virtual reality / Augmented reality

photography

stop motion

When young people make something with their hands or their devices, they also learn that the world is not fixed – it can be built differently. That is the first step towards wanting to shape society.

digital realities

media education

civic participation

digital and physical world are not separated

Living in hybrid spaces

Friendships are maintained

identities are formed

news are consumed

politics is happening

challenges

possibilities

The fragmentation problem

Digital Realities:

Fragmented Worlds and Strategic Actors

algorithms sort our feeds

reinforcement and confirmation of existing beliefs

strategic exploitation of the fragmented digital landscape

manipulation and disinformation by political and social actors

The disinformation problem

NEW: AI Slop

growing up in an an information environment that is deliberately designed to confuse, polarise, and capture attention

What does this mean for young people?

Support to navigate

in the digital world

NEED

Digital literacy

AI literacy

democratization of advocacy

Civic Activism and Mobilisation:

The Positive Power of Digital Tools

track public services

report corruption

mobilize for action

engage in public discourse

Civic Activism and Mobilisation:

The Positive Power of Digital Tools

Five repertoires of digital activism

Information sharing – translating complex science and policy into accessible content

Counter-narrative building – creating alternative stories for communities marginalised in traditional media

Networked mobilisation – coordinating online and offline action simultaneously

Corporate and political pressure – coordinated messaging campaigns targeting institutions

Lifestyle advocacy – peer-to-peer influence through personal stories and tutorials

civic engagement becomes more personalised politics of self-actualisation and expressive engagement – with greater emphasis on digital networking, volunteering, and consumer activism.

Digital Education and Media Literacy:

The Role We Can Play

Level 1 – Critical consumption:

How do we help young people reflect on what they consume?

Learning to ask: Who made this? Why? Who benefits?

Understanding how algorithms work and why they show us what they show us

Recognising the difference between misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content

Building "cognitive resilience" – a kind of cognitive firewall that prevents false information from taking root – through prebunking: exposing young people to weakened versions of common manipulation tactics so they are less susceptible when they encounter them in the wild

Digital Education and Media Literacy:

The Role We Can Play

Level 2 – Active creation: How do we help young people use technical possibilities for their own causes?

Media creation helps young people feel informed, empowered, and represented. When they make content themselves, they understand production from the inside – and become better at critically evaluating what others produce.

Moving from passive consumption to active, intentional communication: choosing platforms strategically, understanding reach, thinking about audience and message

actively teaching everyday people how to seed, spread, and amplify their own legitimate narratives, in recognition that everyone is responsible for the health of their digital public sphere.