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Manipulative content often tries to make us react before we have time to think. Fear, anger, shock and urgency can push us to share information, leave a comment or make a decision immediately. But reacting quickly does not always mean reacting wisely.

Before responding to emotional content online, try this routine

• Pause — do not share immediately.
• Breathe — notice your emotional reaction.
• Check — look at the source, date and context.
• Decide — respond only after thinking.

A resilient mind does not automatically believe everything, but it does not automatically reject everything either. It pauses, examines the evidence and makes an informed decision.

Meet the ResilientMind Consortium

Inside ResilientMind

The 24-month Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in Youth will develop:

These resources will combine practical learning, real-life situations and digital tools to support informed decision-making in today's complex information environment.

Information can be completely false, partly distorted, or even contain accurate facts while still creating a misleading impression through omission, selective framing or missing context.

Three key terms

• Misinformation — false or inaccurate information shared without a clear intention to cause harm. The person sharing it may genuinely believe that it is true.
• Disinformation — false or misleading information deliberately created or spread to influence people's opinions, decisions or behaviour.
• Deception — not limited to direct lies. It can also involve omission, selective presentation, misleading context or emotional manipulation.

Before trusting or sharing a message, try the SCAN routine

• S – Source — Who created or shared the message?
• C – Claim — What exactly is being stated or implied?
• A – Agenda — Is the message trying to inform, persuade or manipulate?
• N – Notice — What is missing: context, a date, evidence, the original source or important nuance?

A resilient mind looks beyond the first impression. A message can mislead even when some of its facts are technically true.

Meet the Coordinator

Inside ResilientMind

Through its eight training modules, twelve interactive scenarios, gamified assessment tool and AI-supported MOOC platform, ResilientMind will help young people and youth workers assess information critically, recognise manipulation and make more informed decisions online.

Fear, anger, shock and urgency can affect how we interpret information, make decisions and behave online. Strong emotions are natural, but they can also make us more likely to accept claims without checking, react impulsively or share content too quickly.

• Fear — can make alarming claims seem more believable.
• Anger — can push us to react or share before verifying the facts.
• Urgency — can reduce the time we give ourselves for reflection and critical thinking.
• Shock — can capture our attention and make us overlook the source or context.

Strong emotions do not automatically mean that a message is manipulative. However, they are a useful signal to slow down and examine the content more carefully.

Before reacting or sharing, try the STOP routine

• S – Stop — Pause before reacting.
• T – Track — Notice what emotion the message is triggering.
• O – Observe — Check the source, language, context and evidence.
• P – Proceed — Respond or share only after reflection.

A resilient mind recognises emotion before action. It does not ignore feelings, but it does not allow them to make the decision automatically.

Meet the Partner: Karazin University

Inside ResilientMind

Every day, online messages invite us to click, comment, share or choose. Even small decisions can influence others, reinforce misleading narratives or spread content beyond its original context.

• Real-life situations — help us test our judgement.
• Online choices — can have consequences for ourselves and others.
• Reflection — helps us respond more responsibly.
• Better questions — lead to better decisions.

Critical decision-making means understanding the situation, checking the available information, considering different options and thinking about possible consequences.

Before acting, try the CASE routine

• C – Check — What is happening and what decision are you being encouraged to make?
• A – Assess — What facts, evidence and context do you have?
• S – See Options — What different choices are possible?
• E – Evaluate — What could happen next as a result of each choice?

A resilient mind does not simply choose the fastest response. It considers the evidence, explores alternatives and thinks through the consequences.

Meet the Partner: ATDD

Inside ResilientMind

Artificial intelligence can help us learn, create and solve problems — but it still requires human judgement. AI-generated answers may sound clear and confident even when they are inaccurate, incomplete or based on unreliable information. They may also miss important context, provide invented sources or reproduce bias.

• Confidence — an AI answer can sound convincing even when it is wrong.
• Context — generated answers may overlook important details or nuance.
• Verification — AI-generated information should be checked before it is trusted or shared.
• Responsibility — people remain accountable for how AI tools are used.

Using AI critically does not mean rejecting it. It means understanding its limits, checking its outputs and using it responsibly.

Before relying on an AI-generated answer, try the TEST routine

• T – Trace — Can you identify the original source?
• E – Examine — Does it provide evidence or verifiable facts?
• S – Search — Can reliable sources confirm it?
• T – Think — Does it make sense in context? Use it only after checking.

A resilient mind uses AI as a tool — not as an unquestionable authority. Smart AI use begins with critical thinking and responsibility.

Meet the Partner: Green Solutions Lab

Inside ResilientMind

Digital resilience also means protecting our attention, emotional wellbeing and ability to make thoughtful choices online. Stress, information overload and constant notifications can weaken concentration and critical thinking. When we feel tired or overwhelmed, we may react too quickly or overlook important details.

• Stress and overload — can weaken critical thinking.
• Strong wellbeing — supports safer online choices.
• Balance — helps us respond instead of reacting automatically.
• Healthy digital habits — protect attention, focus and emotional energy.

Taking care of our wellbeing is therefore an important part of navigating digital spaces responsibly.

To support your wellbeing online, try the CALM routine

• C – Check In — How am I feeling right now?
• A – Avoid Overload — Step back from pressure and digital noise.
• L – Limit Distractions — Reduce what drains your attention.
• M – Make a Mindful Choice — Return and decide with a clearer mind.

A resilient mind protects both attention and wellbeing. Taking a break can be an important step towards making a better decision.

Meet the Partner: GO Alive

Inside ResilientMind

Every click, comment, reaction and repost can influence others. Unverified information, disrespectful communication or careless sharing can harm trust, privacy and safety online.

• Every click, comment and share — can influence people.
• Responsible action — helps protect trust and safety online.
• Digital citizenship — means considering impact, not only intention.
• Small choices — can help create healthier digital communities.

Responsible digital participation means thinking not only about what we want to say or share, but also about the possible impact of our actions on others.

Before posting, commenting or sharing, try the CARE routine

• C – Check — Verify the message, source and context before sharing.
• A – Assess — Think about how your action may affect other people.
• R – Respect — Protect privacy, personal boundaries and human dignity.
• E – Engage — Contribute constructively, responsibly and respectfully.

A resilient mind turns awareness into action. Responsible online behaviour begins with critical thinking, empathy and an understanding that digital actions can have real consequences.

Meet the Partner: AST

Inside ResilientMind

This final skill brings the seven-week journey together through:

The project will help young people and youth workers move from critical awareness to responsible action by checking information, considering consequences, respecting others and contributing positively online.