The research proposal “Evaluation and analysis of the responsible and critical use of the Internet and digital devices for media literacy”,  to be developed within the ORBICOM network, was approved in March. It is coordinated by the UNESCO Chair in Communication and Educational Values at the University of the Basque Country (Spain), in partnership with five other international Chairs. 

The UNESCO Chair of Communication, Media and Information Literacy and Citizenship, at the School of Communication and Media Studies (ESCS) and LIACOM, is the partner representing Portugal in this initiative, which is part of Axis 3 – Infodemic and Media Literacy – of the ORBICOM Collaborative Projects funding program. 

The proposal aims to design and validate a tool to identify responsible and critical use of technologies (Internet and digital devices) among children aged 9 to 12. 

The goal is to provide data that can guide digital media literacy strategies and training actions based on empirical evidence, contributing to the prevention of risks associated with early exposure to digital content, interaction on social networks, and autonomous use of mobile devices. 

The project will be carried out throughout 2026 in Spain, Portugal, France, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Colombia, and is organized into three phases: 1) design and adaptation of the tool for application to 5th and 6th grade students in Portugal (and equivalent school years in the other countries); 2) implementation of the questionnaire for pilot testing; and 3) analysis of results to assess the reliability and validity of the tool. 

As one of the four proposals approved in this edition, its selection highlights the involvement and initiative of the participating UNESCO Chairs in promoting international collaborative research, contributing to the development of the ORBICOM network and to the advancement of knowledge in the field of media literacy and critical, responsible citizenship. 

ORBICOM is a global network of UNESCO Chairs in Communication that brings together communication professionals and academics. Its aim is to promote international cooperation, share knowledge and research, and address global communication challenges in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).