Abstract:

Young people are growing up with short videos, fast-moving trends, and feeds shaped by algorithms. These things influence not only how they communicate with each other, but also how they learn and perceive the world. Schools, though, often have a hard time keeping up and finding ways to deal with this in a manner that actually connects with students while still being solid teaching. A new teaching package developed within the Austrian project “Sicher im Digitalen: Starke Mädchen. Starke Zukunft” takes up this challenge by focusing on social media trends as an entry point for building digital literacy and critical awareness. The material targets students in grades 7 and 8 and is designed for both classroom use and work in girls’ counseling centers. It is built around a competence-based structure, utilizing Bloom’s taxonomy and international digital competence models, with precise alignment to Austria’s Digitale Grundbildung (Digital Education) curriculum. Rather than prescribing content, the unit encourages students to bring in real-world examples from their own social media feeds, forming the basis for classroom analysis. This student-driven approach enables discussions about algorithmic selection, platform logic, and the business models behind these platforms. The teaching package includes detailed guidance for educators and ideas for extending the topic across subjects. Special attention is given to promoting participation, reflection, and gender-sensitive digital education. The goal is not just to teach technical skills but to help students question the digital environments they inhabit every day.

Keywords:

Digital Literacy, Socia Media Trends, Student-Centered Learning.