With Europe’s diverse political and economic landscapes and the rapid rise of new technologies, navigating the online world has never been more challenging. We’re constantly surrounded by media and we all feel overwhelmed by the vast amount information. Yet, cutting through the noise to think critically and make informed decisions isn’t always easy. Which is why, in today’s fast-paced society, media literacy is more crucial than ever to safeguarding democracy and countering disinformation. Every European citizen deserves the skills to decode media’s information and influence. But how can we ensure no one is left behind?
Our project Pixel Media is here to tackle this important issue.
Our key proposal is to create a video game designed to educate young people, helping them become not just “digital natives,” but also media literate. Video games have become a powerful educational tool, and let’s face it “everyone has played one at some point” (and if you haven’t, it’s high time you gave it a go!).
Video games are far more than just a form of entertainment, it is a unique opportunity for players to actively engage, experiment, and learn in a safe and controlled environment. Unlike traditional learning methods, video games give players agency: players make decisions, see the consequences of their actions, and adjust their strategies at their own pace. This autonomy fosters deeper learning experiences and helps players build key soft skills like communication, collaboration, time and stress management, leadership, and resilience.
Thus, the answer to “why choose a video game?” is rather simple…
It is because it empowers learners. Video games provide immersive and interactive spaces where users are free to explore, make mistakes, and grow. With Pixel Media, we are harnessing this power to make media literacy both accessible and genuinely engaging.
Following the game, we’ll provide a set of pedagogical resources to enhance the learning experience. These resources will be designed to guide both educators and learners through their media landscape’s journey. Expect practical guidelines, ready-to-use activity plans, and interactive activities—all tailored to diverse learners and adaptable to various educational settings.
Our commitment to strengthening media and information literacy aligns with the growing need to equip young people with the skills to critically navigate, analyze, and influence the digital world. In an era where news shape public discourse and personal interactions, fostering informed, responsible, and ethical citizens is no longer optional—it is essential for the future of democracy and social cohesion. Through Pixel Media, we empower youth to question, interpret, and actively engage with the media landscape, ensuring they become both critical consumers and responsible creators of information.
Pixel Media is a Creative Europe project co-funded by the European Union, bringing together the expertise of a diverse consortium including ALMA MATER STUDIORUM – UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA “UNIBO” from Italy, Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Culture and Education from Bulgaria, Logopsycom from Belgium, Omladinski savez udruženja “OPENS” from Serbia, RINOVA MALAGA SL from Spain, and YuzuPulse from France.
Stay tuned for the launch of Pixel Media and be part of this European initiative to empower a new community of informed, critical, and engaged citizens.
This project has been co-funded by the European Commission and EACEA in the framework of the NEWS – Media literacy (CREA-CROSS-2024-MEDIALITERACY) call, which aims to support innovative initiatives in media literacy.