Unplugging for a Brighter Future: Internet and Social Media Addiction
Dissemination
On December 5, 2025, the Government of the Canary Islands published a dedicated post on its official Ecoescuela portal to showcase the recent activities of the Erasmus+ project "Unplugging for a Brighter Future." The publication focused on the 3rd LTTA hosted by CIFP César Manrique, where european partners gathered to engage in intensive workshops centered on the prevention of internet and social media addiction. The dissemination activity detailed also a series of local training sessions designed to help educators identify the psychological factors behind digital dependency and distinguish between healthy usage and addictive behaviors. Among the highlighted activities was the use of creative methodologies like "Animation Theater," which allowed participants to simulate and solve real-world digital conflicts such as cyberbullying and social exclusion. By showcasing these practical workshops, the government post underscored the school's commitment to developing innovative pedagogical tools that promote digital well-being and a safer online environment for youth.
On 5 December 2025, IN‑PLANET proudly presented the KA210 Erasmus+ Youth project “Unplugging for a Brighter Future: Internet and Social Media Addiction” during a special dissemination event held in Glyfada, Athens. The presentation took place within the LTTA Workshop of the Erasmus+ KA210 Youth Employment Skills project, organized by IN‑PLANET from 3–5 December, which brought together 47 youth workers and young leaders from Greece, Latvia, France and Serbia.
During the dissemination event, IN‑PLANET members presented the activities carried out in the third LTTA in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the third series of local workshops in Greece, opening a meaningful discussion on digital wellbeing and the challenges young people face in today’s online environment.
The presentation highlighted how participants engaged with the topic of internet and social media addiction through creative and non-formal education methods such as puppet creation using recycled materials, which culminated in a public puppet theatre performance. By blending education, creativity, and collaboration, we reinforced our shared commitment to empowering young people and communities to navigate the digital world responsibly.
On 30 October 2025, the Lithuanian newspaper Draugas published an article titled “Skaitmeninis pilietiškumas: iššūkiai ar galimybės?” (“Digital Citizenship: Challenges or Opportunities?”). The publication presented the Erasmus+ project Unplugging for a brighter future, focusing on how schools can promote digital wellbeing and responsible online behavior among young people. It highlighted the importance of equipping students with critical thinking skills, fostering safe digital practices, and encouraging balanced use of technology in both educational and personal contexts.
Additionally, on 30 October 2025, the newspaper Suvalkietis released a second article under the same theme, further disseminating the project’s objectives and activities. This coverage emphasized the opportunities Erasmus+ provides for international collaboration, mobility, and exchange of innovative practices. By sharing experiences from the Lithuanian school’s participation, the article reinforced the project’s impact on strengthening digital citizenship and preparing students to navigate the challenges of an increasingly connected world.
Later, on 8 November 2025, the newspaper Santaka featured the project in its education section, reinforcing the importance of digital citizenship and showcasing how Erasmus+ empowers schools to prepare students for the challenges of an increasingly connected world.
Source: Page no 8 of attached file
On 18 September 2025, the newspaper El Día published an article highlighting CIFP César Manrique as a national reference in vocational education and training. Within the publication, special emphasis was placed on the Erasmus+ project Unplugging for a brighter future, which promotes digital wellbeing among students and staff. The article described how the project encourages responsible use of technology, fosters healthier digital habits, and integrates innovative practices into vocational training. By showcasing this initiative, the press coverage underlined the school’s commitment to preparing learners not only with professional skills but also with the resilience and balance needed in a highly connected world.
Source: https://www.eldia.es/sociedad/2025/09/18/cifp-cesar-manrique-referente-fp-121723582.html_
On the second of September 2025, the organization STEP delivered a formal presentation of its KA210 Erasmus+ Youth project, titled "Unplugging for a Brighter Future: Internet and Social Media Addiction." This showcase occurred during a dedicated outreach event hosted in Kaluža, SLOVAKIA.
The presentation itself was integrated into the agenda of the "Green bytes" Erasmus+ KA152 youth exchange, which was coordinated by STEP's partner, the ATLAS Association. This exchange, running from the 2nd to the 9th of September, gathered 36 young individuals and leaders from a total of six nations: Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Italy.
The dissemination gathering provided an excellent platform to distribute the findings from the project's most recent Learning, Teaching, and Training Activities (LTTA) held in Athens, in addition to the outcomes from the second round of local workshops conducted throughout Slovakia.
The STEP team members who were actively engaged in this KA2 initiative introduced the project's central concepts: Internet Addiction, Digital Wellness, and self-care. They then solicited perspectives and commentary from the young people in attendance who came from countries not formally participating in the project. This sharing of different ideas, personal accounts, and viewpoints substantially enhanced the conversation and forged new possibilities for partnerships on future youth-oriented initiatives.
On 23rd July 2025, IN-PLANET proudly presented the KA210 Erasmus+ Youth project “Unplugging for a Brighter Future: Internet and Social Media Addiction” during a special dissemination event held in Parnitha, Athens. The presentation took place within the framework of the Erasmus+ KA153 training course organized by IN-PLANET, which ran from July 15th to 24th and brought together 27 youth workers and young leaders from nine countries: Greece, Cyprus, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania, North Macedonia, Spain, France, and Portugal.
With three participants from each organization and four experienced facilitators, the training course focused on enhancing the quality of youth work through creativity, innovation, and cross-cultural exchange. The dissemination event offered a unique opportunity to share the outcomes of our recent Learning, Teaching, and Training Activities (LTTA) in Athens, as well as the second series of local workshops implemented across Greece.
IN-PLANET members introduced the project's core themes—Internet Addiction, Digital Wellness, and self-care—and invited feedback from youth professionals representing countries not directly involved in the project. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and perspectives enriched the dialogue and opened new pathways for collaboration in future youth initiatives.
STEP - Dissemination of project activities "Unplugging for a Brighter Future - Internet and Social Media Addiction."
During a recent Erasmus+ KA1 youth exchange called "Eco-preneurs," held in June 2025, we had the fantastic opportunity to disseminate our KA210 project, "Unplugging for a Brighter Future - Internet and Social Media Addiction."
We presented our project to 30 participants from seven European countries: Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Spain, Slovenia, and Lithuania. We shared a comprehensive overview of our project activities, including photos and videos from training sessions held at a local high school and from the Long-Term Training Activity (LTTA) in Mariampole, Lithuania.
Through a detailed presentation, we informed the participants about the project's core themes, its objectives, the methodologies we employ during our training sessions, and the partners and participants actively involved in making this initiative a success. This was a valuable chance to share our work and raise awareness about internet and social media addiction among a diverse group of young Europeans.
During our second LTTA in Athens, Greece on 28-30 March 2025, SEDPEKAT company sponsored the activities by providing linen bags that were painted by the participants in the theme of the project. Adding a QR code to the bags redirecting to the website of the project, participants committed to use the eco friendly bags to their every day life promoting the project to their local communities. SEDPEKAT also informed its employees and promoted the event to its website and social media.
On December 17 of 2024, IN-PLANET had the pleasure of presenting the innovative project "Unplugging for Brighter Future: Internet and Social Media Addiction" to the Vocational Training Institute of Glyfada as part of the Erasmus+ Days event.
The event kicked off with an introduction to the Erasmus+ program, highlighting the incredible opportunities it offers both locally and across Europe. This was an exciting moment for young students, as they learned about the many ways Erasmus+ can enhance their educational journey and broaden their horizons.
The highlight of the day was the project's presentation, which provided a comprehensive overview of its concept, objectives, and upcoming activities. Designed to engage students in interactive and creative tasks, the project aims to help them understand the consequences of excessive use of digital technologies. The presentation also underscored the importance of fostering digital literacy and responsible online behavior.
Teachers from the institute showed great interest and enthusiasm, expressing their willingness to actively participate in the project's implementation. Their support and eagerness to integrate these activities into their schools demonstrate a strong commitment to addressing the challenges of internet and social media addiction.
On December 10 of 2024, during a meeting of the Marijampolė English Teachers’ Methodical Group, the ERASMUS+ project "Unplugging for Brighter Future: Internet and Social Media Addiction" was presented at the Marijampolė M. Lukšienė Education Center. This project aims to raise awareness about the problem of internet and social media addiction and to promote mindful and responsible use of digital technologies among youth.
The presentation introduced the project’s idea, goals, and planned activities that will involve students in interactive and creative tasks to help them understand the consequences of excessive use of digital technologies. Teachers received practical advice on integrating this topic into their lessons and methodological solutions to encourage students’ critical thinking and enhance their ability to manage online time effectively.
The event included discussions, sharing of best practices, and deliberations on how to engage the entire school community in the project. Teachers expressed interest and a willingness to actively contribute to implementing the project activities in their schools.
This project serves as an important tool for fostering a healthier, more responsible, and goal-oriented young generation.
On 27th November 2024, Héctor Barrios Barrera and Eduardo Del Reguero had the honor of welcoming the National VET Team and staff from SEPIE (Spanish Service for the Internationalization of Education) to CIFP César Manrique Formación Profesional. It was an enriching experience to share the Erasmus+ KA2 projects the school is involved in, all focused on sustainability and positive educational impact.
Among the highlighted projects, they presented: Unplugging for a Brighter Future.
How does excessive internet use affect our health and well-being?
-This project tackles digital addiction and promotes a more mindful use of technology, helping students find a healthy balance between online and offline life.
What do we do in this project?
-Awareness workshops on the effects of excessive screen time on mental and physical health.
-Strategies for digital detox, encouraging healthier technology habits.
-Research and development of educational resources for teachers and students on digital well-being.
-International collaboration with schools from different countries, sharing best practices to reduce internet addiction in educational settings.
This project aims not only to raise awareness among students but also to create valuable educational resources for teachers, families, and businesses.
