This spring, the Media & Learning Association once again brought people together for its monthly Wednesday Webinars, a series of online sessions exploring different sides of digital and media literacy. These webinars are a chance for teachers, researchers, parents, and media professionals from all over Europe to meet, share ideas, and talk about the challenges we all face in today’s digital world.
The idea behind the webinars is simple: we want to give space to the many brilliant people and projects already working in this field. By bringing together voices from different countries and backgrounds, we can learn from each other and hear about things that might help in our own work, whether that’s in a classroom, in a research project, or at home.
This season’s topics were varied, but young people were at the heart of many conversations. We talked about parenting in the digital age, how teens learn about sex online, the pressures of social media, and the rise of online hate and extremism. There was even a podcasting competition! Here’s a quick look at what we covered:
Starting with Healthy Media Use
On 26 February, we opened the season with a session called “Building Healthy Habits”, which focused on the everyday relationship young people have with media and technology. Speakers from Canada, the UK and Ireland—Matthew Johnson, Lizzy Winstone, and Brian O’Neil—spoke about issues like social media pressure, anxiety, and the fear of missing out. They shared ideas on how digital and media literacy can help people feel more in control of their screen time and online experiences.
Helping Parents Keep Up
The next session on 19 March, “Digital Parenting: What Parents Need to Know”, looked at what it means to raise kids in a digital world that’s constantly changing. From managing screen time to dealing with AI, VR, and online risks, this session gave parents practical advice and support.
Yvonne Skipper introduced Project Real from the University of Glasgow, while Mariya Stoilova from the London School of Economics talked about how parents can help their children find a healthy balance online. We also heard about tools like MediaNest from Belgium and the Elternguide.online project from Germany, which are helping parents across Europe guide their children with confidence.
Podcasting with a Twist
On 27 March, we hosted something a bit different: the “Pitch It Like a Podcaster!” workshop, part of the ProMS Project. This session was all about using podcasting as a fun and creative way to learn. Participants worked in small groups using the Mobile Stories platform to come up with their own podcast ideas—and then pitched them in a friendly competition.
We were joined by Johan Sköld, a teacher from Sweden, along with podcast producer Andreea Coscai and teacher Valeria Rus from Romania. It was a lively session that showed how podcasting can get students thinking, talking, and working together—whether they’re in a classroom or learning from home.
Talking About Extremism Online
On 23 April, we turned to a heavier but very important topic: “Decoding Extremism”. This session looked at how radical ideas spread online, often through algorithms and echo chambers that people don’t even realise they’re stuck in.
Speakers included Professor Lynn Davies from the University of Birmingham, Edvin Sandström from Sweden, Serkan Ünsal from Germany, and Jordy Nijenhuis from the Netherlands. They all shared what they’re doing to help people, especially young people, recognise and push back against hate and extremism online. There were real-life examples, honest conversations, and included useful suggestions for teachers and youth workers.
Sex Education in a Digital World
Our final webinar of the season, on 21 May, was called “Beyond the Birds and the Bees” and looked at how young people today are learning about sex—not from school or parents, but mostly from the internet.
Emma Pösö from Save the Children Finland and Vanessa Meyer, co-founder of the Knowbody App in Germany, spoke about the impact of phenonoma like online porn, sexting, and social media on how teenagers see relationships, consent, and body image. They also shared ways that teachers and parents can start open and honest conversations, using media literacy to help young people feel safe and supported when it comes to sex and relationships.
Looking Ahead
Each of these sessions brought something different, but what they all had in common was the sense of community. The Wednesday Webinars aren’t just about listening—they’re about joining in, asking questions, and hearing new ideas from people who really care about making the internet a better place for everyone.
If you missed a session, don’t worry. You can watch all of them on our YouTube channel.
And if you’re wondering what’s next, stay tuned, our autumn season will be announced soon. Until then, we hope these webinars have given you some useful insights, a few new connections, and maybe even a bit of inspiration.
