Prisoners of Algorithms

Youth Exchange | 22 April – 1 May 2025 | Căpățânenii Pământeni, Romania

About the Project

Prisoners of Algorithms is a Youth Exchange that brought together young people from Romania, Türkiye, Serbia, Hungary, Spain, Greece, and Bulgaria to explore how technology, social media, and artificial intelligence influence our everyday decisions.

The project created a space for participants to understand and discuss how algorithms and artificial intelligence impact society. Through practical workshops, group discussions, and creative exercises, they explored the balance between human choice and digital automation.

Key themes included:
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How algorithms shape social media and online content

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The link between technology, attention, and decision-making

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The ethical use of AI and data privacy

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How to recognize manipulation and misinformation online

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Ways to maintain a healthy digital balance

Needs and reasoning

Project Objectives

Young people today navigate a digital world where algorithms shape their decisions, opinions, and behaviors more than ever before. Social media platforms, search engines, and AI-driven content recommendations influence what they see, believe, and engage with daily. While technology offers countless opportunities, it also creates challenges like digital addiction, loss of critical thinking, and the spread of misinformation.

The project goal was to equip participants aged 16 to 25 with the knowledge and skills to critically engage with digital systems through the following objectivs:

Critical Literacy

Equip young people with the knowledge to understand how algorithms shape online experiences, influence opinions, and impact decision-making, fostering critical thinking and digital literacy.

Digital Balance

Encourage participants to reflect on their technology usage, recognize the effects of digital addiction, and explore strategies for maintaining a balanced and mindful relationship with digital tools.

Ethical Awareness

Develop practical skills to identify and counteract online manipulation, misinformation, and algorithmic bias, enabling young people to take control of their digital presence and advocate for ethical digital practices.

Activities and Methods

The project mixed workshops, debates, and creative teamwork that helped participants better understand how technology and algorithms shape daily life. Using non-formal learning methods, they discussed topics such as social media influence, digital addiction, AI ethics, and online misinformation.

Through group challenges and practical tasks, participants explored how digital choices affect both personal behavior and society. Cultural evenings and reflection moments completed each day, creating a balanced rhythm of learning and exchange.

As a final outcome, the participants created six short videos inspired by the week’s discussions and showcasing their experiences.

Check it out below!

Project Gallery

Words from participants

Testimonials

"I left the project with a really good feeling and, to be fair, with part of faith in humanity restored. Every Erasmus project is different, and especially this one, it was filled with emotions, laughter and learning. I don't think we only learned about AI and algorithms, but also about people, how they act and what they believe. Overall, a great project."

<< describe your experience in this project and its impact on you >>

"This youth exchange was an amazing opportunity for personal growth. I really enjoyed meeting people from different cultures and working together as a team. I learned a lot about communication, empathy and collaboration. It also helped me feel more confident in sharing my ideas in a group."

<< describe your experience in this project and its impact on you >>

"Firstly, I learned how to create more non-formal workshops, such as online escape rooms and treasure hunts. Secondly, I learned about many digital and non-digital tools that will be useful in my work, and I am now more motivated to explore them further and discover their full potential."

<< describe your experience in this project and its impact on you >>

"What I will always remember from this project is definitely the friendships. This was my fifth project, but the bonds we formed here, the conversations we had, and the genuine care we showed for each other were unlike anything I’ve experienced in any of my previous projects. It felt special, and I’ll carry those memories with me."

<< one moment from the project that you will always remember >>

"There's something from every day and every activity that I will always remember. But maybe the most meaningful one was the court simulation because everyone enjoyed it very much."

<< one moment from the project that you will always remember >>

"I will always remember the cultural visit to the fortress of Vlad Tepes, climbing those stairs was a great experience and then hiking with a few of the group to a meadow was the best part."

<< one moment from the project that you will always remember >>

"The most impactful part for me was the group workshops where we discussed actuals topics. These sessions made me reflect more and inspired me to be more involved in my community. I also appreciated the chance to improve my English."

<< one specific aspect of the project that you find most beneficial or impactful >>

 

"I think the human connection, debates and open discussions we had, even though from the outside they might have looked like arguments they were actually insightful conversations."

<< one specific aspect of the project that you find most beneficial or impactful >>

"I found that working in teams in almost all of the activities in the project really changed the way I view work and sharing ideas or getting an assignment done. I think that teamwork is one of the most efficient and effective ways to work on something, while at the same time is a skill you have to practice on."

<< one specific aspect of the project that you find most beneficial or impactful >>

"One of the most beneficial things from this project was, for me, to learn about the bad and dangerous parts of using the internet."

<< one specific aspect of the project that you find most beneficial or impactful >>

Project outcomes in numbers

Project Evaluation

Dissemination
Find out more about Erasmus+ Program here

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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