On June 1, we marked World Children’s Day not with balloons or cake (though there were plenty of snacks), but with something just as vital: meaningful conversations with Dutch teenagers about online safety, digital identity, and empathy.
This dynamic workshop was the result of a strong collaboration between our project partners MySociety (Netherlands)and More Mosaic (Sweden). Together, we developed an interactive program designed to help young people navigate the emotional and social complexities of online life.
A special thanks to MySociety for not only co-developing the workshop content but also for organizing the event in the welcoming and inspiring setting of CODA Apeldoorn.
Throughout the session, we explored:
- The benefits and risks of online communication
- The many faces of digital identity — from the chronic over-sharer to the anonymous explorer
- How to respond to online aggression with empathy and nonviolent communication, instead of clap-backs and keyboard wars
The teenagers who joined us spoke candidly about real-life experiences in group chats, dealing with trolls, peer pressure, the chaos of comment sections, and how they set boundaries in digital spaces. Their openness and honesty confirmed what we believe deeply: digital literacy must go hand in hand with emotional intelligence.
The energy was high, the conversations were deep, and one takeaway was clear — empathy remains the most underrated superpower online.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event a success, especially our partners at MySociety and More Mosaic. Together, we took another step toward making the internet a kinder, more thoughtful place — one conversation at a time.
FENAN Consulting 
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