Attention, young people! Workshops open to combat misinformation and polarization
A pioneering program against disinformation in Colombia has just opened its doors to dozens of young people who, through their leadership, seek to combat polarization and half-truths.
These are Young Leaders DIP, a program that, through academia and science, has shown thousands of participants how disinformation, the so-called phenomenon of “falseness”, and polarization affect the life and health of democracies in the world. The initiative is led by the SURA Group and Ethos BT, a consultant who has used education to change behaviour and thoughts in a person who could harm the rest of society.
The call is aimed at young residents of Colombia between the ages of 15 and 28 who have leadership spaces in any area of incidence, from community, rights defense, or educational issues to broader scenarios, such as political platforms.
The program seeks to train a new generation of young people capable of combating disinformation, understanding cognitive biases, and promoting leadership based on critical thinking and responsible communication, explains the statement of application.
The DIP project, whose Spanish acronym translates to Information Detox Project, is the only one in Colombia that has academically demonstrated that disinformation can be combated and, through studies and pedagogy, can avoid falling into it.
And several have been the red alerts that have been announced in the face of disinformation in Colombia and the world. UNESCO, for example, has found in recent years that this phenomenon is one of the main threats to a democracy and its institutions, both in electoral times and in public opinion when discussing issues of national interest, such as politics, the economy, or human rights.
In 2021, for example, the United States lived as experts in that country considered one of the largest democratic fractures in history, seeing thousands of protesters heading to the Capitol in Washington after hearing a rumor indicating that the presidential elections had been fraudulent. The same happened in the UK, when millions of voters went to the polls to separate from the UK and, once the vote was held, confessed that they did not have enough knowledge to make a decision and that the scrutiny was guided by half-truths and disasters.
In Colombia, the avalanche of disinformation is no stranger either, because in the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of false news stories circulated that, although later clarified and rectified by the authorities, had already settled in the public discourse and ended up influencing the behavior of the people.
Officials at Ethos BT told The Spectator that, although worrying, the phenomenon does remedy itself. In 2024, they conducted a study applied to 2,000 participants in which it was demonstrated that disinformation can even mutate into dehumanization and violence. The research concluded that 30.3 per cent of participants may show a significant decrease in disinformation exposure when there is pedagogy and behavioral change.
This training will allow young people to contribute to the construction of a less polarized, more empathetic and conscious country of the damage caused by disinformation, which feeds on emotions such as indignation and anger, and generates scenarios of uncertainty, confusion, anguish, violence and insecurity, explained Beatriz Vallejo, director of the consultancy that has managed to impact at least 135,000 people in Colombia.
How do you run?
The call will be open until next Tuesday, September 9, and has only two requirements: that young people reach the age range (15 to 28 years) and have been involved in leadership initiatives.
If accepted, participants will be able to benefit beyond the knowledge acquired, such as a certification by Ethos BT on disinformation, bias, and communication; access to literacy and critical thinking research; and the opportunity to participate in the DIP advisory committee.
This is a unique opportunity for young leaders to transform public conversation and contribute to the construction of a more democratic, informed, and united Colombia, the call reads.
