Digital technologies have fundamentally transformed how information is accessed and consumed, with UNESCO research highlighting that 56 percent of internet users now rely on social media as their primary news source (UNESCO/IPSOS, 2023). In Pakistan, this shift is characterized by a stark “literacy – connectivity gap.” While the country boasts over 205 million mobile subscribers and 116 million internet users, the rapid expansion of connectivity has significantly outpaced the development of critical media literacy. For many citizens, unprecedented access to the digital world leaves them vulnerable to a widespread prevalence of disinformation, due to the gap in critically assessing sources or being able to distinguish fact from fake information.
In response to these structural challenges, the UNESCO Office in Pakistan, is collaborating with the Interactive Resource Centre (IRC), in implementing a pilot grant under the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). The initiative, “Digital Citizens for Peace: Countering Hate and Disinformation,” moves beyond reactive fact-checking to invest in young people as active shapers of Pakistan’s digital public sphere. By focusing on young journalists and content creators, the most active demographic online, the project implements a multi-layered approach that combines professional skills development, ethical content creation, and institutional engagement to foster a more resilient media environment.
At the heart of the initiative is an intensive Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Camp, an immersive learning experience designed to bridge the disconnect between digital access and critical engagement. The program blends theoretical insights from UNESCO’s global resources with hands-on learning, including mentorship and innovative theater-based role-playing exercises that simulate the real-world consequences of hate speech and disinformation. Participants are equipped with analytical resources to produce accurate, fact-based content. As a tangible outcome, these young leaders develop original information products that promote social cohesion and model responsible digital citizenship, contributing directly to a more constructive information ecosystem.
To ensure a sustainable impact that reaches far beyond individual participants, the initiative focuses on strengthening Pakistan’s wider digital infrastructure. UNESCO and the IRC are producing a video-based MIL toolkit, an open-access resource designed for integration into higher education curricula and for dissemination through community screenings. This effort aligns with broader policy goals, including contributions to Pakistan’s National Media and Information Literacy Roadmap. By encouraging universities to embed MIL within their systems, “Digital Citizens for Peace” reflects a shift from isolated interventions to systemic change, empowering the next generation to navigate, challenge, and responsibly shape the digital spaces of tomorrow.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/empowering-digital-generation-rise-digital-citizens-peace?hub=701
