BACKTRACK: Bridging Generations Against Disinformation

Ongoing

No. 101254142

18 months

CERV-2025-CITIZENS-CIV

Description

BACKTRACK is a European Union-funded project that brings together adults aged 45+ and young people aged 18–30 to explore how disinformation shapes public understanding — across generations, borders, and the shift from an analogue to a digital information environment.

The project recognises that different generations experience disinformation differently: older adults may carry memories of historical propaganda and periods of restricted information, while younger people navigate a media landscape increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. BACKTRACK creates space for both groups to learn from one another, building shared media literacy and mutual understanding rather than treating disinformation as a problem for one age group alone.

Diversity Development Group (DDG) is a partner in the consortium, leading the project’s Cross-Generational Exchange Sessions and contributing to outreach with Russian-speaking, immigrant, and national minority communities in Lithuania.

What we’re doing

  • Mapping knowledge and needs through focus group discussions with both target groups, establishing a shared starting point for the project.
  • Facilitating dialogue circles with adults 45+, creating space to reflect on disinformation and historical narratives.
  • Running cross-generational exchange sessions, bringing 45+ adults and youth together to share experiences, teach each other practical skills, and co-create strategies for recognising and responding to disinformation.
  • Delivering skills-building workshops to strengthen participants’ digital confidence and critical media literacy.

Who it’s for

The project engages adults 45+ and youth 18–30, with particular attention to reaching Russian-speaking, immigrant, and national minority communities across the participating countries.

Partners

BACKTRACK is implemented by a consortium of partner organisations across the participating countries, coordinated by the Institute of Baltic Studies (IBS, Estonia).

Get involved

If your organisation works with adult or youth community groups and would like to take part in an upcoming session, get in touch with our team.

Contact: Karolis Zibas, Research and Policy Advisor, DDG — karolis@diversitygroup.lt

Project coordinator

Institute of Baltic Studies (IBS, Estonia)

Project partners

New East (LV)
Public Organisation Institute of Innovative Governance (UA)
FUNDACJA INSTYTUT SPRAW PUBLICZNYC (PL)
VSI DIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP (LT)

Contact person

Karolis Zibas
Project manager, research and policy advisor

karolis@diversitygroup.lt

Dmytro Mamaiev
Researcher

survey@diversitygroup.lt