Disinformation did not begin with social media. Long before algorithms and artificial intelligence, images were manipulated, narratives shaped and information used to influence public opinion. What can history teach us about recognising these mechanisms today?

In this NECE Campus session, Florian Tuder from the House of European History introduced Trust or Trash, a free digital learning module developed as part of the HistoriCall platform.

Through historical case studies, interactive exercises and classroom discussions, the module helps young people examine media bias, manipulation, the credibility of sources and the psychological processes that influence how we consume information.

One particularly revealing example was a First World War image assembled from twelve separate photographs – inviting students to question not only what they see, but also the intentions behind an image and the perspectives it leaves out.

Designed for learners aged 12–18 and available in all 24 official EU languages, Trust or Trash offers educators flexible resources that connect historical understanding with critical thinking and responsible media use.

Watch the session recording to explore the module, its teaching methods and practical applications in the classroom.

Speaker

Florian Tuder works as Formal Learning Officer at the House of European History in Brussels where he develops digital materials for high school teachers across Europe to support them teach European history in general and the history of European integration specifically. In the past 15+ years, he worked in the field of education and training in Austria and Belgium for schools, non-profit organisations, and the private sector. Florian has an academic background in Education, Theology, and European Studies from the Universities of Graz (Austria), Sibiu (Romania), and Leuven (Belgium) complemented with certifications in e-learning and instructional design (Harvard Graduate School of Education and University of Washington).