At the conclusion of DisInfoHack 2026, held at the GATE Institute of Sofia University on Monday, the focus was placed on the necessity of media literacy in the current information landscape. The university’s rector, Prof. Georgi Valchev, addressed attendees, stressing that young people must cultivate robust critical thinking skills to effectively differentiate authentic information from misleading content.
According to the rector, events like DisInfoHack are vital for bridging the gap between verifiable facts and manipulative narratives in today’s digital environment. He urged the youth to prepare for modern challenges by taking an active role in establishing a sustainable information ecosystem. Valchev also cautioned that even seemingly reliable information can sometimes be weaponized as disinformation.
DisInfoHack itself is an initiative operating under the scope of the three-year project, Countering Disinformation Environment (Ecosystem) in Bulgaria (CoDE). The project is designed to enhance information resilience through a rigorous scientific approach. The implementation involves multiple academic bodies, including Sofia University through its GATE Institute, the European Studies Department of the Faculty of Philosophy, and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
These efforts are conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the European Software Institute. The overall aim remains to equip the next generation with the necessary tools to navigate complex information streams responsibly.
Topics: #university #rector #critical
Media literacy feels more crucial than ever given the current speed and volume of information online.