Preventing and Countering Online Hate Speech

Overview & Synopsis

Social media and chats are not 'clouds' disconnected from reality: they are concrete spaces of interpersonal relationships where words, even virtual ones, can become very powerful tools of oppression. In fact, living on social media implies continuous exposure to the gaze and words of others. And, therefore, also to sexist comments, insults and an often unaware participation in virtual dysfunctional dynamics. For this reason, care is necessary, an education in reflexivity, respect and listening. The book proposes a pedagogical device to prevent and combat hate speech, describing the impacts it produces on the existential dynamics of victims. And a pedagogical-didactic trajectory that reveals its most insidious virtual forms, making this phenomenon recognizable especially to younger people. The volume proposes a new way to reverse the hateful flow of hate speech: the alternative narrative that is intertwined with an educational model that starts from human rights to reach their protection. The HRE (Human Rights Education) hybrid teaching device designed by the author intends to support the training of teachers, educators and training professionals in the acquisition of digital citizenship skills from an 'active learning' perspective.