{"id":1631,"date":"2023-02-24T09:51:59","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T09:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/queenscommonwealthtrust.org\/?post_type=project&p=1631"},"modified":"2025-06-27T05:35:53","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T05:35:53","slug":"the-common-sense-network-finding-common-sense-in-a-divided-and-polarised-world","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/queenscommonwealthtrust.org\/projects\/the-common-sense-network-finding-common-sense-in-a-divided-and-polarised-world\/","title":{"rendered":"The Common Sense Network – educating and empowering young people to be more informed and responsible digital citizens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Research shows that Millennials and Gen Z often lack the digital literacy skills needed to navigate the online space safely and effectively. 75% of young people surveyed* in the UK had come across fake or misleading news, but only 2% felt confident in their ability to spot fake or misleading news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Study by UK’s National Literacy Trust, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Omoniyi, a journalist by profession, founded the Common Sense Network to respond to media polarisation and manipulation and the existence of different echo chambers among young people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cYoung people live in an increasingly digital world and our workshops empower them to navigate it safely and to contribute positively online.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nMichael Omoniyi<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Michael Omoniyi leading a digital literacy workshop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Common Sense Network empowers and educates 18-34 year olds in the UK to become better digital citizens. They conduct workshops, online training, university tours and tackle topics such as fake news, emotional manipulation and polarisation. Young people also have access to the Common Sense Network’s extensive online editorial and news content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Participants at a CSN led digital citizen workshop’, covering topics such as fake news, emotional manipulation, polarisation and more<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Common Sense\u00a0Network is among nineteen other organisations that are currently enrolled on the Youth Ventures Programme (YVP). Through the YVP, QECT provides youth-led organisations with flexible funding, practical tools and technical support, and access to a global network of young leaders for 2+ years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With QECT\u2019s support since March 2022 The Common Sense Network has been able to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To launch their \u201cBe Digital Citizens\u201d programme, which trained over 200 young people in digital skills in 3 schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

70% of the people trained have indicated that they developed new skills as a result of the workshop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hire an operations executive to support the development and delivery of workshops and  engagement with schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cQECT\u2019s support has really helped me feel more confident about approaching\u00a0more\u00a0organisations\u00a0about the work we do. It makes me feel like I\u2019m doing\u00a0important work and other\u00a0organisations\u00a0can follow in the footsteps of QECT\u00a0in helping us reach more young people.\u201d<\/em>\u200b<\/p>\nMichael Omoniyi<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Future work supported by QECT in 2023:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CSN\u2019s goal is to reach more young people and to train other young people to deliver their own workshops (train the trainer model). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click below to watch CSN’s video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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