The Internet has helped us in several ways to stay up to date with global events, keep easy communications, increase productivity, etc.

However, the fast transition has led to the incursion of portable ICTs into our daily life, with few awareness and social norms of how to deal with this. More often, we watch youngsters who are psychologically absent in the real world with an excessive use of the Internet. According to Eurostat numbers, 81 % of EU citizens use the internet at least once per week, and 72 % use it daily. This represents a sharp increase compared with the respective 56 % and 43 % measured 10 years ago. In 2021, 95 % of youngsters aged 16-29 years in the EU reported using the internet.

Many daily/social activities, social cues, etc. have been shifted in the digital world. We are witnessing a world of young ghosts with mobiles who are physically with their friends, family, school, jobs, etc., but, at the same time, they are more active on the Internet. On those moments, their few physical interactions can give the sensation that “they are there” but not really.

The Internet overuse and the absence in the real world, can fuel different negative behaviors. The range of behaviors observed in the growing population of internet users has in recent years become so complex that scientists have defined these phenomenon as ‘Problematic Use of the Internet’ (PUI), for behaviors such as gambling, pornography viewing, social networking, etc.

The study “Cross-cultural study of PUI in 9 EU countries” scientists investigated the relationships between PUI, time, activities spent online, and psychopathology in 5593 internet users, from 9 European countries. The prevalence of PUI ranged from 14% to 55%. PUI and other behaviors are considered in our society as “normalized” practices without realizing the big problem our society is immersed.

We need to start working on this situation in an urgent matter, otherwise we will fail to our youth communities. If we do not act on this, we will contribute with the transformation of our society into a “phubbing society”.

• Objective 1: To CONNECT our experience, tools and know-how of negative behaviors on the Internet and its impacts.
• Objective 2: To ENGAGE youngsters and youth workers in the identification, counteraction and prevention of negative behaviors on the Internet.
• Objective 3: To EMPOWER youth communities in confronting “normal” negative behaviors.

The main projects activities are:

• Participatory training in Hungary and Italy to transfer tools and knowledge in negative behaviors on the Internet, in online addictions and detox techniques.
• Online workshops to transfer tools and knowledge on Internet side effects and Emotional Management for feelings emerged online.
• An interactive book that documents the REAL Framework.
• Course in Spain where the Framework and book will be evaluated.
• REAL Community to provide a safe space for youngsters and youth workers to tackle negative behaviors.
• Dissemination campaign to support and motivate project participants in becoming multipliers by transferring the REAL Framework.
• Other Dissemination Activities to raise awareness of the importance in tackling “normal” negative behaviors.

Our partnership will become pioneers for possessing and sharing an innovative framework to tackle “normalized” online problematic behaviors.

Youth workers and youngsters will be able to identify, tackle and prevent them.

The community will be a safe space for people who want to look for support, share their stories about their internet behaviors (addictions), etc. Members will raise awareness to unnormalize this situation.

YOUTH WORKERS & YOUNGSTERS will have:

1. Applied learning outcomes acquired in WP2
2. Been aware, unnormalized & confronted negative behaviors (outside and inside the PUI umbrella)
3. Applied the detox process & controlled their time online
4. Enjoyed staying offline for long periods of time, enjoying activities in the real world.
5. Reduced their cyberchondria
6. Collected their files/devices in a responsible way, contributing for the environment.
7. Controlled/reduced access to unnecessary content
8. Reduced the Internet overuse

PARTNERSHIP AS A WHOLE will have:

1. Became pioneers for possessing/sharing an innovative framework to tackle “normalized” online problematic behaviors
2. Conducted their activities considering the policy recommendations provided to the European Parliament (see WP2 & 3)
3. Increased their participation in Erasmus+

Tudás Alapítvány will have:

1. Applied Emotional Management tools & helped youngsters with their feelings and behaviors emerged from the Internet
2. Applied online detox techniques in their young learners

Permacultura Cantabria will have:

1. Raised high awareness in youth communities about negative behaviors, effects, etc.
2. Applied tools to identify youngsters with addictive behaviors

ORIEL will have:

1. Applied/shared knowledge/tools to counteract PUI
2. Become applicant in a KA2 project in a short term basis