On June 1, 2026, the Landesjugendreferat Burgenland launched the campaign “FILTER OFF. LEBEN ON. Du bist echt genug.” (Filter off. Life on. You are real enough.) The campaign aims to raise awareness among young people about addiction and dependency, with a focus not only on psychoactive substances, but also on digital media, gaming, mobile phone use, nicotine vapes and alcohol.

The campaign responds to growing concern about young people turning to substances or digital platforms as a way of coping with stress, anxiety and other pressures. Burgenland’s Youth Councillor Daniela Winkler stressed that prevention needs to reach young people before problems become so serious that clinical treatment is needed. The campaign therefore focuses on primary prevention and meets young people in the places where they spend time, including social media, schools, youth centres and youth meeting spaces.

A central part of the campaign is that it was developed with young people, not only for them. Young people were involved through focus groups and feedback rounds, helping shape the concept and wording. The campaign uses short videos for social media, image videos on alcohol, nicotine, gaming and mobile phone addiction, as well as expert and youth videos featuring voices from youth work, school psychology, social services and young people themselves. Posters in schools and youth settings, together with a dedicated landing page on the Landesjugendreferat website, support the wider campaign.

“FILTER OFF. LEBEN ON.” encourages young people to take themselves seriously as they are, without masks, filters or pressure to perform. It recognises that addiction does not always begin with a drug, but can also start with the next video, story or level, until excessive use begins to feel normal. The campaign offers young people tools for reflection, information about where to find help, and a clear reminder that they are “real enough” without artificial filters or substances.

Find more from Land Burgenland (Austria, June 2026)