Our research and frontline experience has shown that education is integral in undermining the appeal and impact of propaganda, as well as challenging ‘us versus them’ dynamics at their root. ISD’s programming has reached hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, youth workers and parents worldwide, exploring what citizenship means in the Digital Age. We equip both young people and adults with the tools and knowledge to challenge online harms, but also galvanise them to consider what a ‘Good Web’ should entail in the years to come.

Over 1,000 practitioners worldwide have been trained in ISD’s resources, spanning both the formal and informal education sectors. In parallel, we engage policymakers at the highest level of government to forge a common agenda for Digital Citizenship Education and counter-extremism efforts, building political will at the domestic and multilateral level. 

For almost a decade, we have partnered with those most affected by violent ideologies, including former members of Islamist, paramilitary and white supremacist groups, as well as victims of hate-crime or discrimination. We combine this direct testimony with broad-based research into emerging harms and trends across social media. As such, our programmes are underpinned by leading research into how and where hate, extremism and disinformation are being mainstreamed online, and which interventions are most effective in response. 

We design accredited digital citizenship curricula that support teachers and youth workers to discuss complex issues with young people. This includes:

• How to identify mis- and disinformation (e.g. conspiracy theories, clickbait, manipulated media);
• Exploring fact versus opinion, including how sensational content can be used to drive user engagement;
• The benefits and pitfalls of a ‘personalised web’, including algorithms and filter bubbles;
• Understanding unconscious bias and how it influences our worldview;
• Analysing ‘us vs them’ narratives, and how online echo chambers may widen social divides;
• Responding effectively to hate speech and forging more inclusive digital communities;
• Creating inspiring digital content to champion causes, promote positive messages and support peers

Additionally, we produce resources for parents that enable them to understand and proactively support their children’s digital journey beyond the classroom, an area where carers consistently report low confidence.

Finally, we aim to demystify topics which are often dismissed as contentious, sensitive or overly complex for an education setting. We believe that with the right frameworks and training, these issues can and must be addressed in a range of contexts – from schools and youth clubs to workplaces and religious institutions.

ISD’s flagship education programmes include:

Be Internet Citizens: Developed in partnership with YouTube and Google, this pioneering programme builds the resilience of young people across the UK to a range of online harms, supporting them to become more literate, accountable and inclusive digital users.

Business Council for Democracy (BC4D): With our partner employers, we offer adults an 8-part training programme on digital citizenship during working hours. The aim of these cross-age trainings is to strengthen internet users’ media literacy and to provide concrete options on how to better protect themselves and others against digital dangers.

Young Digital Leaders: A Europe-wide project designed to empower young people through digital citizenship education. The programme equips participants with the tools to critically evaluate information online and create their own impactful and inclusive digital content.

Extreme Dialogue: Developed in collaboration with the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation and duckrabbit, with support from Public Safety Canada and the European Union, this programme confronts violent extremism head-on. Compelling films document the first-hand testimony of former extremists and survivors of violence in contexts around the world, across the ideological spectrum. The films are accompanied by a series of interactive resources for use in schools and youth centres, exploring issues such as belonging, identity, isolation and ‘othering’.