The Intersection of Youth and Media in North Macedonia:
Navigating Influence, Engagement, and Challenges

written by CID, North Macedonia

The relationship between youth and media in North Macedonia influences societal perceptions, shapes opinions, and empowers the younger generation. The evolving media platforms, technological advancements, and the diverse interests of young individuals intersect to create a complex environment that offers both opportunities and challenges.



Critical Thinking in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

written by Azra Tapuškić, Bosnia and Herzegovina

As Generative AI (GenAI) becomes a standard “colleague” in our workflows, the primary threat to critical thinking is no longer misinformation alone, but cognitive offloading. This phenomenon occurs when we delegate the “productive struggle” of reasoning to an algorithm, leading to what researchers now call “metacognitive laziness”.



United in diversity

written by Teodora Cekić, Serbia

The WeBalkans Young European Ambassadors is a non-political, activist program that was launched in August 2020 which is now a creative  network  of  future  young  game  changers  from  across  the  Western Balkans



Youth Participation in Decision-Making in Montenegro: A Comparative Analysis with Sweden

written by Milica Damjanović, Montenegro

In most European countries, the topic of whether young people are sufficiently involved in the decision-making processes that affect them and to what extent remains ever-relevant, continually raises new questions. The goal is to advance in all respects, focusing on education and the participation of those who are the future of their countries, which should always invest in the youth and foster their desire for activism and self-improvement. Annual research generates numerous conclusions, many of which remain largely unchanged from previous years.



Cyberbullying in Serbia

written by Mateja Maletin, Serbia

In the past five years, children and young people have been increasingly exposed to digital violence, according to research by the umbrella organization of young people in Serbia. In the period from 2019 to 2021, a stable trend was recorded, where 37% of respondents stated that they had been exposed to digital violence, while this percentage increased to 40% in 2022, i.e. in 2023, even 47% of respondents stated that they were exposed to digital violence.





Low vaccination, high risk – Montenegro in fight against the HPV virus

written by Marija Radović, Montenegro

A silent killer – cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among women in Montenegro when it comes to malignant diseases. According to data from the World Health Organization for 2020, Montenegro has the highest age-standardized incidence rate (26.2 per 100,000 women) and mortality (10.5 per 100,000 women) from cervical cancer in Europe.



The Transformative Role of Non-Formal Education in North Macedonia: Empowering Youth Beyond Classroom Walls

written by CID, North Macedonia

In North Macedonia, the pursuit of education transcends the traditional boundaries of classroom learning. Amidst the structured academic framework, non-formal education emerges as a dynamic and impactful force, offering unique opportunities for personal development, skill enhancement, and societal enrichment.





Digital Activism and Youth: How Innovative Technologies Shape Social Movements

written by Stjepan Benkus, Croatia

Digital activism has become a significant avenue for youth engagement in social movements, facilitated by innovative technologies and social media platforms. In an era where connectivity is instantaneous and information flows rapidly, young people have found new ways to participate in activism that are both accessible and impactful, transcending the boundaries of traditional protest methods.



The Dark Side of Social Media: Protecting Albanian Youth in a Digital Age

written by Alesia Dodaj , Albania

In recent years, the digital life of Albanian youth has grown at an extraordinary pace, turning social media platforms into central spaces for communication, entertainment, and identity building. But alongside this rapid expansion, a troubling reality has taken shape…