Conspiracy theories: how Media Illiteracy fuels manipulation, extremism and profit

English webinar led by Debora Barletta

This fifth and last webinar of the MILES project explores how conspiracy theories exploit gaps in media and information literacy to spread disinformation, recruit for extremist causes, and generate profit for those who promote them.

Building on the tools and frameworks covered throughout the webinar cycle — from MIL fundamentals and the SIFT method to hate speech and digital safety — this session connects the dots, showing how conspiracy thinking sits at the intersection of all these issues. 

Join us for free!

Wednesday 22 April 2026, 5pm – 6pm

Live on Facebook and YouTube

Why participate

You will gain a clearer understanding of why conspiracy theories are so effective, who benefits from them, and what you can do to recognise and counter them.

Agenda

Introduction and framing

• Welcome and recap of the webinar cycle journey.
• Brief interactive opening (live poll)

What makes conspiracy theories work?

• The narrative structure of conspiracy theories (hidden enemy, denied truth, simple explanations for complex realities).
• Key cognitive biases they exploit: confirmation bias, proportionality bias, pattern recognition.

Who benefits? Following the money and the power 

• Conspiracy theories as tools — not just beliefs. 
• How they serve political extremism and radicalisation (from far-right “great replacement” narratives to anti-democratic movements). 
• The attention economy: monetisation through platforms, merchandise, and alternative media ecosystems. State-sponsored disinformation and geopolitical destabilisation. 
• Concrete, current examples with real-world consequences of conspiracy-driven action: public health (anti-vaccine movements), social cohesion, erosion of trust in institutions and democratic processes. 
• How conspiracy theories intersect with hate speech and target vulnerable communities.

From awareness to action: what can we do?

• Applying the tools from the full webinar cycle: using SIFT and source verification against conspiratorial content. 
• Pre-bunking vs. debunking — what the research says actually works. 
• How to talk to someone who believes in conspiracy theories: empathy-based approaches.
• The role of educators, youth workers, and civil society as multipliers.

Closing

The expert

Debora Barletta is an international youth worker, trainer and facilitator passionate about empowerment and non-formal learning. An expert in human rights education, combating hate speech, youth participation and Internet governance, with a focus on inclusion and digital literacy. 

She designs and conducts innovative educational programmes – online and offline – adapting them to different contexts, third sector, schools, universities.

Co-coordinator of the National Network for Countering Hate Speech and Hate Phenomena and National Coordinator of the No Hate Speech Movement Italy, she is also an active member and campaign manager of UNITED Network.

She is a member of the board of YouthIGF Italy and of the Programme Committee of the Internet Governance Forum Italy, helping to promote inclusive and participatory Internet governance.

With a strong international background, stemming from her experience with the Council of Europe and her work on several European projects, Debora Barletta also supports local realities to foster the inclusion of marginalised young people.

Active in advocacy and campaigning, she participates in national and international debates and panels to promote rights, diversity and digital citizenship.

MIL and PRE-BUNKING approaches for critical thinking in the education sector is a project funded by the Erasmus+ programme – Partnership for Innovation – Forward-Looking Projects.

Partners

• Coordinator: Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci – ETS – Italy
• OLAE – Portugal
• Aproximar – Portugal
• ALSDGC – Romania
• Bupnet – Germany
• KMOP – Greece
• GO! – Belgium
• Cardet – Cyprus
• die Berater – Austria
• Atermon – the Netherlands
• Danmar – Poland

For further information visit the website miles.erasmusplus.website or contact Lisa Avarello: lisa.avarello@danilodolci.org.