UNESCO trains participants in South Africa to counter harmful online content

oung people and representatives of youth-led organisations in South Africa are learning to verify information, challenge hate speech and create responsible digital content through UNESCO's European Union-funded Social Media 4 Peace project.

Held between April and July 2026 in Gauteng and the Western Cape, the workshops reached 104 participants, strengthening their ability to respond to harmful online content and promote social cohesion in their communities.

The training went beyond recognising misinformation and disinformation. Drawing on UNESCO's Media and Information Literacy (MIL) framework, participants explored ethical content creation, online safety and privacy, mental health in digital spaces, and practical ways to counter hate speech. They also developed organisational MIL plans to integrate these skills into their work and community engagement.

For a 15-year-old learner from McAuley House, the workshops offered a new perspective on using social media.

"I enjoyed the fact that I understood that I could use social media in a positive way. Instead of using it to harm others, I can use it to prevent harm being done to others."

Youth participant Mellisa Mwini said the training strengthened her confidence in assessing online information.