Description
The project is dedicated to children and young people and it address online hate speech. Its objective is to explore how hate speech is perceived and experience by young people. Public messages, education resources (lesson outlines, e-learning) and activity projects (contests) will be developed based on the findings and results of target group research (focused group interviews and pilots). In addition, the project will involve professionals (seminars, promotion of education resources), national partners (consultations, promotions) and international partners (Iceland). All this will help us reach out to a large target group (pupils and students of primary, middle and secondary schools), strengthen their awareness of the problem, provide them with effective response tools and engage them in pro-active measures to fight hate speech in the internet.
Summary of project results
According to the research conducted by the Polis Association, hate speech has become the main form of human rights violation on the Internet. The “Minority report"" (2012) shows that 36 per cent of opinions posted on the Internet that refer to the minorities contained negative emotions. The research conducted by the Nobody's Children Foundation - EU NET ADB (2012) - indicates that 40 per cent of young people aged 14-17 met with hate speech on the Internet in forum discussions and in comments. The research also shows that people who experience hate speech are more vulnerable to depression and anxiety disorders. The aim of the project was to get children and young people involved in activities that are designed to actively counteract hate speech on the Internet. A campaign was organized on how to identify and counteract hate speech. Thanks to various techniques and media, such as a music video, radio and tv spots and promotional materials to be used online, the campaign theme was broadly visible in the public discourse in Poland. A group of the youngest users of the Internet in Poland, i.e. children aged 6-12, took part in activities that address hate speech. The initiative Sieciaki (young web users) is constantly being developed and updated. Lessons scenarios and e-learning course on counteracting hate speech were prepared during the project implementation. A social campaign and competitions were organized, materials related to the project theme were prepared. Promotional activities were carried out during two biggest music festivals in Poland, attended mostly by young people. A report on the research on hate speech among young people was prepared. Thanks to the Internet tools, children and young people from all over Poland benefited from the project activities. Icelandic Safer Internet Centre from Iceland - the project partner - cooperated in running the social campaign and in creating educational materials on hate speech. The local partners - Association for Children and Youth CHANCE from Głogów, Aid Association “Spark"" from Wrocłąw, regional Committee for Protection of Children's Rights in Poznań and Czajnia Association from Tomaszów Lubelski - were responsible for recruiting project participants and for promoting the activities.
Summary of bilateral results
The Foundation worked with the project partner, SAFT Samfélag, fjölskylda og tækni, in the framework of the European network Saferinternet centres. The partner attended the Online Safety of Children and Youth conference and presented its perspective on the fight against hate speech. Ideas from Iceland, such as a focus on the positive message or using celebrities, inspired the project's social campaign. The project planned to adapt the entire campaign to be presented in Iceland in Icelandic. It turned out to be quite challenging and finally the idea was dropped. Instead, some of the sticker art was translated and sent to the Partner. The partner also requested some original stickers in Polish.