Short description:

The digital media landscape is changing rapidly. AI, Algorithmus and fake news are increasingly shaping young people’s everyday lives. They influence consumer decisions, shape opinions, and affect how young people perceive and understand information and participate in society and democratic life.
The project COCO media – Conscious Consumers in media addresses these developments by bringing together media- and democracy education.
As part of the project, the COCO media Hands-on Labs will be created at the Museum of Social and Economic Affairs. They will feature interactive learning stations where young people can learn to think critically about digital media and develop an awareness of how they can actively and constructively shape digital spaces.
In addition, a COCO media toolkit with practical materials and methods for teachers will be developed to support media and democracy education in schools.
COCO media aims to empower young people to engage with digital media in a critical, confident and responsible way, while strengthening their participation in democratic life.
COCO media trägt dazu bei, Jugendliche zu einem kritischen, selbstbestimmten und verantwortungsvollen Umgang mit digitalen Medien zu befähigen und ihre demokratische Teilhabe zu stärken.

Offers & activities for Viennese schools (Grades 5-8):

• 80 workshops for Viennese school classes at the COCO media Hands-on Lab Vienna
• One-day cross-border field trip for 10 Viennese school classes to Bratislava, including a visit to the COCO media Hands-on Lab in Bratislava
• COCO media goes Brussels: A study visit to Brussels for student representatives from the Vienna pilot schools, including visits to EU institutions and first-hand insights into European politics and cooperation
• Democracy brunches: Around 300 students will have the opportunity to meet and talk with experts from politics, the media, and civil society on democracy, European politics, and digital participation
• 3 COCO media Afterworks for teachers to learn about the COCO media Hands-on Lab, explore the COCO media Toolkit, and exchange ideas and experience on media and democracy education in the classroom
• Co-creation sessions for two teachers from the pilot schools to jointly develop the COCO media Hands-on Labs in the second semester of the 2026/27 school year
• Equipping 10 pilot schools with a media kit

For further information on projects of the INTERREG VI-A Slovakia–Austria 2021–2027 program see: siehe Projects INTERREG Slovensko – Rakúsko!