#EthiTech Toolkit

Aims of the tool

The toolkit aims to transform young people from passive consumers of digital content into resilient, informed, and active digital co-creators. By adopting a “train-the-trainer” approach, EthiTech equips youth workers with advanced strategies and practical tools that create a ripple effect, empowering marginalized youth to navigate the digital world with condence, safety, and entrepreneurial potential.
The curriculum is built on three interconnected pillars, each addressing a critical dimension of digital life.

Description of the tool

1. Building the Digital Self & Resilience
EthiTech challenges the outdated belief that online and of ine identities are separate. It introduces the concept of the “Digital Self”, emphasizing that
digital actions carry real-world consequences. This pillar explores the psychological dynamics of online behavior, including:
Online Disinhibition Effect (benign vs. toxic)
Pluralistic Ignorance and its role in fueling harmful online behavior
The impact of dopamine loops, compulsive scrolling, and algorithmic reinforcement
The formation of  lter bubbles and their in uence on perception
To support ethical and mindful digital engagement, the toolkit provides practical frameworks such as:
The S3 Model (Safe, Savvy, Social)
The THINK Method (True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind)
This pillar also focuses on digital well-being, teaching young people how to “retrain” algorithms to support their mental health rather than exploit their
attention.

2. Navigating Information Disorder & Digital Security
In an era shaped by deepfakes, misinformation, and algorithmic polarization, EthiTech trains learners to become “digital detectives.” Instead of relying
on vague warnings about “fake news,” the toolkit introduces the precise Information Disorder Framework, distinguishing between:
Misinformation – false information shared without harmful intent
Disinformation – intentionally deceptive content designed to cause harm
Malinformation – the use of truthful information to in ict damage
Learners develop strong veri cation skills through:
The SIFT Method (Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace)
Lateral Reading techniques
This pillar also strengthens technical resilience by clarifying the difference between:
Online Privacy – control over personal data
Online Security – protection against threats and attacks
Key topics include:
Social engineering and manipulation tactics
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Password management
Understanding and managing Passive Digital Footprints

3. Empowering Creativity & Active Digital Citizenship
EthiTech positions technology as a tool for social justice, creativity, and employability. This pillar encourages young people to use digital tools not only
for consumption but for meaningful creation.
Key components include:
Entrepreneurial Creativity: using digital tools to produce valuable, portfolio-building content
Digital Storytelling: enabling marginalized youth to reclaim their narratives and advocate for their rights
Ethical content creation: informed consent, de-identi cation, and “Do No Harm” principles
Upstander Culture: applying the 5Ds of Bystander Intervention (Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, Direct) to address online harassment
The goal is to cultivate a generation of digital citizens who are technically skilled, ethically grounded, and socially responsible.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:
Define Digital Citizenship and understand its nine core elements (e.g., Digital Law, Commerce, Etiquette)
Analyze the Information Disorder framework (misinformation, disinformation, malinformation)
Understand how the Attention Economy, algorithms, and feedback loops shape online behavior
Recognize psychological triggers such as the Online Disinhibition Effect, dopamine loops, and the bystander effect
Distinguish between Online Security and Online Privacy, including rights under GDPR and CCPA
A. Theoretical Knowledge & Critical Understanding
Participants will learn to:
Apply the SIFT Method for fact-checking and source verification
Strengthen digital hygiene through password managers, MFA, and digital safety audits
Manage Active and Passive Digital Footprints, using defensive and offensive strategies
Demonstrate functional competence in information literacy, secure communication, and content creation
B. Practical & Technical Skills
By engaging with the EthiTech Toolkit, both learners and facilitators will develop competencies across three domains: Theory, Practice, and Ethics.

C. Ethical & Social-Emotional Competencies
Participants will be able to:
Apply the THINK Method to ensure ethical online communication
Act as Upstanders using the 5Ds of Bystander Intervention
Use Digital Storytelling to express identity and advocate responsibly
Develop Digital Empathy, aligning online behaviour with real-world values