For generations, we have trusted what we see. A photograph or a video was considered solid proof of reality, a way to capture and preserve truth. But with the rise of deep fakes—AI-generated images, voices, and videos—that certainty has disappeared.

Deep fakes can be entertaining, used in art, gaming, or education. Yet they also carry serious risks. They can be used to spread false information, manipulate public opinion, or damage reputations. The danger is not only in the false content itself, but in the doubt it creates: if anything can be faked, can we trust anything at all?

This is why Connecting Minds for Digital Tomorrow!, implemented by Stichting yEUth with support from the European Solidarity Corps, treats deep fakes as more than a technical issue. They are part of a larger conversation about media literacy and digital responsibility. Through workshops and training sessions, participants learn not only how deep fakes are created, but also how to critically assess the media they consume.

The project encourages young people to go beyond first impressions. Instead of accepting every image or video at face value, participants are asked to question sources, check contexts, and look for signs of manipulation. In practice, this means slowing down, verifying information, and building the habit of skepticism—not cynicism, but careful awareness.

Understanding deep fakes is not only about protecting oneself from deception. It is also about safeguarding democratic participation. When manipulated videos circulate online, they can influence elections, public debates, or international relations. Young people who learn to recognize these tactics become not only safer digital citizens, but also more resilient contributors to society.

In a world where the line between reality and fabrication is increasingly blurred, the skills to navigate this uncertainty are vital. The goal of Connecting Minds for Digital Tomorrow! is to ensure that young people are not disempowered by digital manipulation, but strengthened by the awareness of how it works. Seeing is no longer always believing—but with the right tools, learning to question what we see becomes a path to empowerment.