Connecting the dots: AI literacy, media literacy and youth participation in Europe’s democratic future
Bojan Kordalov, Director of Policy and Communication at the European Centre of Excellence (ECE Brussels), official photo
This is a post by Bojan Kordalov, Director of Policy and Communications at the European Centre of Excellence (ECE Brussels) and a Senior EU expert in strategic communication, EU visibility, digital transformation and AI literacy, originally written for PulseZ. He has over 20 years of experience in EU visibility, public relations campaigns, and strategic consultancy. Bojan is currently serving as a Director for policy and communication at the European Centre of Excellence (ECE) in Brussels.
Europe’s democratic future will not be shaped by regulation or technology alone. It will be shaped by people, and in particular by whether young people are meaningfully included in democratic processes that increasingly take place in digital and AI-mediated environments.
Across Europe and EU candidate countries, young people are often described as “the future”. Yet decisions about democracy, digital policy and governance are still too often taken without their active participation. This gap between rhetoric and reality weakens trust and limits democratic resilience.
This reflection builds on an article first published by Bojan Kordalov on the PulseZ platform, focusing on the interconnection between AI literacy, media literacy and youth participation and why these elements must be addressed together.
Youth participation is a democratic necessity
Youth participation is not a symbolic gesture or an optional add-on to democratic life. It is a democratic necessity.
Today’s young people engage with society through multiple channels: education systems, digital platforms, online communities and AI-driven information environments. Participation is no longer limited to voting or formal consultation processes. It also includes how young people understand information, create content, engage in debate and influence narratives.
Excluding young voices from these spaces risks deepening disengagement and mistrust at a time when democratic systems need renewal.
Why AI literacy and media literacy must be connected
Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping how information is produced, distributed and consumed. Algorithms influence visibility, recommender systems shape attention, and generative AI tools affect how content is created.
In this context, media literacy alone is no longer sufficient. It must be complemented by AI literacy, understood as the ability to:
understand how AI systems influence information flows
recognise risks related to manipulation, bias and disinformation
use digital and AI tools responsibly and critically
When young people develop both media and AI literacy, they are better equipped to participate actively and responsibly in democratic life.
Photo credit: Pixabay
The EU AI Act and democratic values
The European Union’s approach to AI governance, including the EU AI Act, is not only about technological regulation. It reflects a broader commitment to protecting fundamental rights, human dignity and democratic values.
However, regulation on its own cannot guarantee trust. Democratic legitimacy depends on whether citizens understand how AI affects decision-making, public services and everyday life, and whether they feel empowered to engage with these systems.
This is where literacy, participation and communication intersect.
Participation builds trust, not tokenism
Trust grows when participation is genuine, not symbolic. Young people need real opportunities to contribute, shape discussions and co-create solutions using formats and tools that reflect their realities.
This requires:
inclusive governance approaches
clear, human-centred communication
investment in skills that enable informed participation
