The Urgent Call for Information Hygiene During War
Political expert Yuriy Romanenko has raised a critical alarm, stating that Ukrainian society lacks essential survival protocols and information hygiene in the face of a full-scale war. He stressed that in the current reality, it is vital to educate the public on how to properly navigate the information space. This warning comes as modern conflicts are increasingly fought with information as a primary weapon.
Romanenko noted that parents are failing to pass down crucial norms and protocols that would help their children understand that life can become extremely harsh.
"Well, their own safety... Do they want to live or not? Well, presumably they do. And it turns out that the parents of these children have not passed on the slightest norms or protocols about the fact that, well, life can be very cruel," he stated.
He also emphasized that the absence of a mental framework in people leads to unpredictable risks.
"You have no internal programming that would allow you... to have a coordinate system that tells you: No, don't go there, there's a risk here, watch out for this," Romanenko underscored.
In his view, many people in the current world picture are guided only by their own desires, failing to recognize the threat posed by the enemy. "In their worldview, there is only me and my desire to get a 'like' or attention. And this lack of understanding of the context in which the country exists—that is the greatest threat," the expert added.
The Critical Need to Teach Information Hygiene
Romanenko called for the implementation of information hygiene training in schools, arguing it is a matter of survival in wartime conditions.
"This is a matter of hygiene. Information hygiene, which we do not have. And this is what needs to be taught in schools now... How to survive in the information space during a total war," he concluded.
In wartime, the issue of information hygiene becomes especially critical, as disinformation can have serious consequences for public safety and mental health. Having clear protocols and knowledge on how to properly consume information can help people avoid manipulation and false perceptions of reality. Integrating this knowledge into the school curriculum could not only raise youth awareness but also strengthen society as a whole during these difficult times.