#5 Sunstorm Intelligence - Digital Literacy with Latitudes: Teaching Young People to Think Critically in an AI-Driven World.
From classrooms to social media feeds—rethinking how we prepare youth for the digital challenges ahead.
Today’s digital landscape blurs the lines between fact and fiction, making it increasingly difficult for young users to discern credible information, challenge biases, and make informed decisions. Without proper education in digital literacy and critical thinking, the risks are high: manipulation by false information, reinforcement of cognitive biases, and passive consumption of technology rather than active engagement. The rise of AI-generated misinformation and social media algorithms designed for engagement rather than truth further complicates the challenge. If we fail to equip young people with the right tools, we risk a future where entire generations are more susceptible to digital manipulation, weakening democratic discourse and informed decision-making.
To explore solutions, we spoke with Augustin Courtier from Latitudes, a non-profit founded in 2017 that is tackling this issue head-on. Through educational programs and hands-on learning experiences, Latitudes is empowering young people to understand, question, and reshape the role of technology in society—ensuring they become active participants rather than passive consumers in the digital world.
Key Highlights :
AI is accelerating critical thinking decline : a Microsoft study reveals that less confident individuals struggle to assess AI-generated content, raising concerns about digital literacy gaps.
Schools continue to focus on teaching technology use rather than its critical analysis. A digital gap remains in equipping young people with the necessary skills to engage with digital technologies thoughtfully and responsibly.
Social media design shapes how young users engage with information – Platform algorithms prioritize highly engaging content, which can influence information consumption patterns and contribute to the spread of misinformation.
Young people need digital literacy like they need food literacy : just as they learn about nutrition, they must understand how tech works, how to make responsible choices, and how to shape their own digital environments.
AI is a societal issue, not just a technical one. The rise of "AI anxiety" highlights public disempowerment; citizens and overall young people must have a voice in shaping ethical AI and the future of digital ecosystems.
What is Latitudes, and why was it created?
Latitudes is a non-profit organization advocating for more responsible and socially engaged technologies. We founded it as we were finishing our engineering studies. While we were taught cutting-edge technical skills, there were very few resources on the social and environmental impact of these technologies : in France, only 7% of digital training programs provide dedicated resources on the environmental impact of digital technologies. Our motivation—then and now—is to transform the way digital technologies are taught, ensuring that these often-overlooked issues are properly addressed.
We develop educational programs to raise awareness about the social and environmental impacts of digital technologies and to promote their use for the common good. For example, we created the AI Battle, a two-hour card game that allows participants to debate AI-related topics such as its environmental impact, bias, fake news, and more. We also launched “Future of Tech” and “Future of AI” to help middle and high school students explore tech careers and engage critically with pressing issues such as disinformation, cyberbullying, diversity in tech, and the environmental footprint of digital tools.
Do secondary schools and universities provide enough training in critical thinking regarding new technologies?
In our opinion, not enough! While new technologies are becoming increasingly integrated into curricula—such as the French Ministry of Education’s recently announced AI courses set to launch in September 2025—the focus is often on using technology as an educational tool or teaching students how to use it. What’s missing is a deeper critical perspective: helping students question why they use technology, what impact it has, and how to engage with it responsibly.
But the first step is training the adults. In France, 93% of primary school teachers report having received little to no training in digital technologies. How can we expect young people to adopt responsible digital practices if educators themselves lack the necessary knowledge?
And AI is accelerating everything. A recent study published by Microsoft (!) showed that Generative AI can negatively impact critical thinking. It’s time we pause and reflect—are we moving too fast? We should at least ask ourselves, even once, what kind of technology we want as a society.
How can we teach young people to question online content intelligently?
The recent Microsoft study highlights two distinct profiles: on one side, individuals who are confident in their skills and able to apply critical thinking to Generative AI results; on the other, those with lower self-confidence who struggle to assess AI-generated content critically.
There are several ways to address this issue: explaining how information is produced and disseminated, showcasing examples of fake news, and teaching best practices like fact-checking and source verification. Many organizations—including Latitudes—are actively working to equip young people with these skills.
However, we can’t put the entire burden on education or expect young people to bear all the responsibility. Social media platforms exploit human cognitive biases for economic gain, amplifying misinformation and shaping behaviors. It’s time to shift the pressure onto tech companies by demanding more responsible practices—such as ending infinite scrolling, adjusting algorithms to reduce the spread of misinformation, and ensuring AI-generated content is transparently labeled.
Teaching critical thinking is essential, but without systemic change in how digital platforms operate, the challenge will remain overwhelming.
What concrete approaches does Latitudes implement to help young people grow up in a hyperconnected world while developing their independent thinking?
Our approach is built on two main levers:
Developing critical thinking : we design programs that help people understand how digital technologies work, debate their societal and environmental impact, and engage in role-playing exercises to navigate ethical dilemmas. The goal is to equip them with the tools to think independently rather than passively consuming technology.
Creating alternative digital spaces : we provide sandboxes where people can explore a different vision of technology. Whether it’s working on a project for a non-profit, tackling open data challenges, or discovering small but impactful changes in their digital habits, we help them take action at their own level.
By combining education and hands-on experimentation, we build the credibility to work with institutions and advocate for a more responsible trajectory in the digital sector.
What would your ideal action plan be to build a more resilient generation?
Digital technologies often feel abstract, so I like to draw parallels with more tangible issues—like the food industry, which faces similar challenges. Young people often don’t fully understand what they consume—whether it’s food or technology. They don’t always know what they’re using, how it’s produced, or how to make responsible choices.
If we want a more resilient generation when it comes to food, we educate people on nutrition, production systems, and their environmental impact, we help them make informed choices, and we give them the skills to grow their own food if needed.
The same applies to digital technologies:
We need to help people understand what’s at stake in the digital world.
We need to empower them to choose technologies that align with their values and well-being.
We need to give them the ability to rebuild and reimagine digital systems if necessary.
Right now, we’re far from achieving this level of digital resilience. But step by step, we have the power to reinvent technology and put it back in the hands of people.
Anything else you'd like to add?
With everything happening in the tech sector, especially around AI, we’re seeing a rise in “AI anxiety.” But we need to remember that AI isn’t just a topic for experts—it’s already shaping our daily lives.
All citizens should have a say in what kind of AI they want. By helping people understand the stakes, empowering them to make informed choices, and fostering alternatives, we can build a future where AI serves society—not the other way around.
Thank you for reading !
This edition was written by Bréanne MALLAT, Head of Intelligence and Community at the Sunstorm Foundation.
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