Raya Tsvetkova

Working as a youth worker in Bulgaria has taught me many things, but nothing has stretched me quite like teaching media literacy. It sounds so simple—help young people understand what they see online. But once you stand in a room full of teenagers, each scrolling through a different world on their phone, the real challenge becomes clear.

The first difficulty is attention. Teens are constantly bombarded with content, notifications, and trends that shift by the hour. Competing with TikTok’s speed and drama is nearly impossible. When I ask, “Where do you get your news?” I often get a shrug or a joke about memes being the most reliable source. And honestly, I get it. I was that age once too. But that moment always reminds me why these workshops matter.

Another challenge is trust. Many young people have seen adults argue online, share fake stories, or dismiss their opinions. So when I walk in and say, “Let’s talk about verifying information,” some assume I’m there to lecture them or police their behavior. My job is to break that wall gently. I start with games, role-plays, debates, and funny examples of misinformation. Once they see I’m not there to judge them, they open up. They start asking real questions: “How do I know if a screenshot is fake?” “Is this influencer sponsored?” “Why do politicians lie on TikTok?”

But the triumphs—those keep me going.

One of the best moments is when a teenager suddenly connects the dots. I once had a boy who insisted that everything he saw online was “obviously true.” By the end of the workshop, he was the first to call out a misleading headline in an activity. His proud smile was priceless. Another time, a group of girls created their own “fact-check” Instagram story after our session, teaching their classmates how to spot manipulated images. They didn’t do it for grades or approval—they did it because it mattered to them.

There’s also a quiet triumph in seeing teens realize they have agency. They’re not just passive consumers. They can question, analyze, and challenge what’s in front of them. In a country where media is often polarized and political messages are loud and emotional, this skill is powerful.

Teaching media literacy isn’t easy. It requires patience, humor, flexibility, and the ability to explain algorithms at 9 a.m. to a group that hasn’t had breakfast yet. But every small breakthrough reminds me why this work matters. When young people learn to think critically, they don’t just navigate the online world better—they navigate life better. And being part of that transformation is the greatest triumph of all.