The critical thinking of young people, a resource to cultivate for the future.

We live in a historical era marked by deep contrasts: on one hand, access to information has never been so vast and fast, while on the other, the ability to discern, select, and correctly interpret what we read or hear often seems to be diminishing, especially among young people. In a world dominated by social media, breaking news, and infotainment, what space is left for reflection, source verification, and constructive doubt? Are we helping the new generations to become conscious citizens and think for themselves? Developing critical thinking in young people is not a luxury for a few, but a collective necessity, in an era where democracy, social cohesion, and even well-being increasingly depend on the ability to think independently, deeply, and responsibly.

The Current Context: Data and Challenges

The data speak clearly. According to the Education and Training Monitor 2024 by the European Commission, a concerning percentage of students does not achieve satisfactory levels in basic skills: 29.5% are not adequately prepared in mathematics, 26.2% are lacking in reading, and 24.2% in science. In other words, almost one-third of our youth lack the basic tools to critically analyze and understand their surroundings.

In Italy, the situation appears even more critical. Istat data from 2023 indicate that 13.6% of young people aged 18 to 24 have chosen to drop out of school prematurely. Furthermore, the country has one of the highest rates of NEET youth (Not in Education, Employment, or Training): a condition that often leads to disorientation, mistrust, and a lack of tools to navigate the world.

At the same time, exposure to digital content is increasing: according to Eurostat, 96% of European young people aged 16 to 24 access the Internet daily, spending more and more hours on social media. Information, however, is not knowledge: without guidance, the risk of misinformation is confusing opinions with facts, memes with news, and suggestions with truths.

Why Critical Thinking is Essential

But what, really, is critical thinking? It is the ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate information independently, thoughtfully, and responsibly. It allows us not to accept everything we are told but to ask questions, increase our judgment, sense of right and wrong, discern truth from falsehood, seek confirmation, challenge assumptions, argue our ideas, and nurture curiosity and imagination. Critical thinking is what makes us profoundly human and is one of the essential tools for living in a complex, democratic society.

Having critical thinking means being able to read between the lines, distinguish opinion from fact, and exercise independent thought, unconstrained by propaganda or algorithms. In an era marked by misinformation and polarization, this skill becomes vital.

Critical thinking does not develop on its own: it must be cultivated, educated, and stimulated. This is where learningIl termine apprendimento - con i sinonimi imparare, assimila... More comes in.

Educating for Critical Thinking: School and Beyond

School is, or should be, the first fertile ground to sow critical thinking. It is not just about teaching knowledge, but providing students with opportunities to reason, discuss, doubt, and form an informed opinion.

Projects such as A Scuola di Open Coesione, promoted by Istat, or the European Statistics CompetitionCompetition is one of the most pervasive attitudes in human ... More, organized by Eurostat, are exemplary: students engage in real research, learn to read data, understand statistics, and report on the world around them in a conscious way.

But more structured interventions are needed: a curriculum reform that incorporates debate, rhetoric, logic, and civic education not as peripheral subjects but as core elements. If schools want to educate citizens, they must teach how to think.

Voices of Educators

Many writers and educators in recent years have raised the alarm about the lack of critical thinking among young people, but also about the transformative power of education.

Alessandro D’Avenia, writer and teacher, in books such as “The Art of Being Fragile” and “The Call”, emphasizes the importance of an education that does not simply provide answers but teaches how to ask questions. According to D’Avenia, fragility is not a weakness but a way to engage with the world with openness and awareness—qualities essential for developing critical thinking.

Enrico Galiano, teacher and author of novels such as “The Art of Making Big Mistakes”, highlights the value of error and doubt as tools for growth. Galiano writes:

A young person who is afraid of making mistakes is a young person who does not take risks, does not try, and does not think independently.

Only in an environment that values the process, not just the outcome, can true critical thinking emerge.

Marco Benini, pedagogue and head of educational programs at Fondazione Patrizio Paoletti, such as Oltre le Periferie, states:

Critical thinking is not just a cognitive skill: it is a fundamental lever for building identity and developing a sense of responsibility toward oneself and the whole—understood as both social body and planet. Especially in adolescence, it is not solely a logical-rational function. As Antonio Damasio (1994) highlights, emotions are integral to decision-making and evaluative processes. Along this line moves our founder, Patrizio Paoletti: thinking critically means understanding one’s own and others’ emotions, self-regulating, motivating and inspiring, practicing empathyEmpathy is a fundamental skill that allows us to connect wit... More, and developing social skillsThe relational core of emotional competence When we talk abo... More through interaction. Integrating thought with affective and social experience is ultimately the foundation of our well-being. Authentic critical thinking feeds on empathy, emotional awareness, and openness to the complexity of human experience. This is why exercising it is also an act of care: for oneself, for others, and for the world.

Building Change: Concrete Proposals

Developing critical thinking in young people is not an abstract goal, but a concrete task involving schools, families, media, and society. Effective strategies include adopting active and participatory teaching methods that stimulate reflection through group work, debates, analysis of diverse sources, writing and research workshops, like those implemented at AIS Assisi International School, the bilingual school of Fondazione Patrizio Paoletti, which combines the Montessori Method with Third Millennium Pedagogy.

Teacher training is also crucial, preparing them not only in their disciplines but also in the use of innovative teaching methodologies. Another key element is media education, to be introduced from lower secondary school, to help students identify reliable sources and protect themselves from misinformation. It is also important to create spaces, both physical and virtual, where young people can freely engage, grow, and question their beliefs.

Building a more just, fair, and supportive society depends on its citizens’ ability to exercise free, critical, and responsible thought. This ability must be nurtured from a young age.

Investing in young people’s critical thinking means investing in the future of the country. It means forming individuals who not only “know” but above all “think”. And this, perhaps, is the first true freedom to seek.