recreate
The impact of online hate on young people
It’s quick to write a comment. Its impact can last. For many young people, hateful comments and personal attacks are part of everyday digital life. Around 90 per cent of 14- to 24-year-olds have already encountered hateful comments online (source: State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia, forsa survey ‘Hate Speech 2023’). It becomes particularly problematic when this leads to people withdrawing: when people no longer express their opinions, avoid discussions or feel that they cannot make a difference anyway.
For children and young people, this raises a question early on that extends far beyond individual platforms: how do I deal with language – both that of others and my own?
This is exactly where re.create comes in. The joint initiative by Zeichen gegen Mobbing e. V., Forever Day One and LAMY brings the topic into schools.
Rather than listening to a lecture on right and wrong behaviour, young people explore for themselves what triggers hate and hurtful language, how they react to it, and what options they have.
This also involves making the transition from bystander to upstander: from observing a situation to taking conscious action – without putting themselves in danger in the process.
Pen and paper play a deliberate role in this process. Writing and creating art provide a buffer from the immediate reaction in the digital space. Thoughts can first be recorded, altered or rephrased. re.create does not aim to tell young people what to think or write. The learning format gives them the space to develop their own stance and to stand up resolutely against digital hate and bullying.
How does a hurtful comment affect me?
How can language exclude people – and how can it bring them together?
And what can I do myself?
Pupils in Years 6 to 8 explore these questions with re.create.
The learning programme comprises three 90-minute sessions and combines an examination of online hate with reflection and creative work.
re.connect begins by focusing on personal perception: what do hate and hurtful language trigger?
re.shape takes a closer look at the impact of language and shows how words can exclude, but also bring people together.
Finally, in re.create, the young people develop their own messages and make their stance visible.
A toolbox against online hate
To mark the launch of the initiative, the complete toolkits are available free of charge to 100 schools in Germany.
In addition, the digital learning materials are freely accessible. re.create brings together a range of expertise: Zeichen gegen Mobbing e. V. contributes its experience from school-based prevention work, whilst Forever Day One is responsible for the learning content and educational concept.
LAMY provided the impetus for the partnership and is enabling the long-term implementation of the learning format.
The toolbox can be ordered at recreate.network. Further information and the digital materials are also available there.
Only available to schools in Germany.
Experience from everyday school life
Zeichen gegen Mobbing e. V. works with pupils, parents and teachers across Germany. The organisation combines prevention work in schools with counselling and practical support in cases of bullying. Zeichen gegen Mobbing e. V. brings this experience to re.create. The organisation supports the initiative with its expertise gained from its day-to-day work with young people and schools, and has helped shape the development of the learning format.
Here at LAMY, we are delighted to have Zeichen gegen Mobbing e. V. by our side at re.create. We benefit from the experience the organisation gains every day in schools. At the same time, we want to use our resources to further support this work within our shared network and reach more people. After all, re.create does not end with the toolbox.
