“I write because I want to understand the world I am living in. I hope that my readers come away from my work thinking more about the internet and how they use social media. Sometimes it can be difficult to pinpoint a problem if we do not have a name for it, and that makes it difficult to talk about and realise than many people are struggling with similar issues. I hope my work makes them feel less alone”. 

For Catherine Prasifka, the Irish author, who opened the three-day Festival of European Literature in Tirana, themes like youth and social media drive the audience to consider important questions that need to be asked. As our everyday life has changed due to the role of smartphones - connecting us with people around the world, interrupting our routines, but also creating an addiction to the light that pops up on the screen- they have fundamentally altered our sense of self.

EU in Albania

In her two books, “None of this is serious” and “This is how you remember it”, Prasifka explores these issues, trying to navigate not just over pros and cons, but also to understand where we stand in these public issues. “I think social media has given us the ability to see ourselves from the outside, and to critique and construct our social persona. It has an effect on everything from our relationships to how we engage in politics, all characterised by a personalised and immediate form of communication”, she explains. 

EU in Albania

At “Naim Frasheri” high school in Durres, Prasifka adapting herself to a younger audience, talking with students about (un)reality of social media, sharing and caring through posts, the concept of being lonely and alone, and also specific themes related to the writing process. She addressed topics such as writers’ block between books, success, trusting one’s values, improving writing skills, and developing readings and style. Answering to a young girl, she also shared her approach to balancing personal life with public posts while avoiding addiction. 

“I think education is the key to finding balance. We need to know that what we see online is not always real, and also that we have control over what we see. Being careful about what we choose to see, who we choose to engage with, and how long we spend on social media can help to improve our relationship with it. It is also important to acknowledge that social media has become an important part of life and that ‘switching off’ is not always possible. We need other solutions to manage distressing content”, she emphasised.

Her discussion at “Europe House” opened the Festival of European Literature, organized by the EU Delegation to Albania in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Culture in Albania. The festival aims offer a platform to foster dialogue, explore diverse literary landscapes, develop a better understanding of today’s world through literature in a series of conversations that reflect the diversity of European literature and languages. EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato highlighted the role of art in fostering mutual understanding.

EU in Albania

 “I have always believed that culture and arts are powerful tools for delivering important messages about the challenges in our societies and helping us to understand different perspectives. Often, we perceive different views as threats, but this process helps us to understand our origin and become open to other identities. FELT, the Festival of European Literature in Tirana, is a celebration of European values, bringing the EU and Albania closer together,” said Ambassador Gonzato. 

The Director of the Italian Institute of Culture, Alessandro Ruggera, added, “In the modern world, we cannot pretend that national cultures are isolated. The festival creates an opportunity to exchange ideas.” 

Contemporary literature is increasingly aware of, and seeks to raise awareness about, our challenges, taking advantage of technology while mitigating its harms. When asked about the greatest danger, Prasifka noted that it is difficult to pinpoint just one. “Disinformation, fake news, AI-generated content, and harassment can all work together to create a harmful social media environment. When we cannot discern what is real online, it becomes harder to combat harassment, and when abuse is targeted, it is easy to lose sight of what is a fringe opinion versus a mainstream one,” she stressed.

EU in Albania

However, as art connects deeply with human emotions, one of Prasifka’s key messages is the danger of “social media replacing all in-person communication and connection, as this would make reality even harder to understand.”