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Martyna Gliniecka and Zuzanna Stańska on youth digital resilience in “Gazeta Wyborcza”

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16 Feb 2026

Should the minimum age for access to social media be raised to 16? This question is returning more and more frequently in Poland. In an article published in “Gazeta Wyborcza Katowice”, journalist Magdalena Warchala-Kopeć discusses the ongoing debate on restricting young people’s access to social media platforms, as well as proposed regulations concerning smartphones in schools.

The article features the voices of CASE – Center for Social and Economic Research experts: Martyna Gliniecka, Senior Social Sciences Specialist, and Zuzanna Stańska, Social Sciences Specialist. They argue that the public debate often overlooks the perspective of young people themselves and lacks a deeper understanding of how they actually function in digital environments.

The publication refers to the report “Fact or Fiction? Critical Thinking and Digital Resilience among Youth, Parents and Teachers in Poland, Lithuania and Latvia,” prepared within the Erasmus+ project. The research highlights clear generational differences: while adults tend to focus primarily on risks and threats, young people perceive the internet as a natural space for relationships, personal development, creativity and everyday life.

Critical thinking – the ability to independently assess, verify and evaluate information – is key to coping with the constant flow of content.

Martyna Gliniecka

Senior Social Sciences Researcher

Developing critical thinking and digital resilience has become essential for young people’s intellectual and emotional well-being, as well as for their active and responsible participation in democratic societies.

Zuzanna Stańska

Specialist in Social Sciences

The article also underlines that young people rarely turn to adults for help when facing online risks, revealing a deficit of trust and a lack of coherent systemic support. In this context, the Fact or Fiction report shifts the focus of the debate – from simple bans toward education, dialogue and strengthening digital competencies.

The full article is available on the Gazeta Wyborcza Katowice website.

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Martyna Gliniecka and Zuzanna Stańska on youth digital resilience in “Gazeta Wyborcza”

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Martyna Gliniecka and Zuzanna Stańska on youth digital resilience in “Gazeta Wyborcza”

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