Sprecher
Beschreibung
Background: Hate speech, a societal scourge, has found a potent conduit in modern technology, exacerbating its reach and impact. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the pernicious effects of online hate speech, which threaten their well-being and social cohesion (Wachs et al., 2022), highlighting an urgent need for effective prevention programs. Despite the growing recognition of this need, anti-hate speech programs still need to be developed, with questions about the efficacy of existing programs (Seemann-Herz et al., 2022). Addressing this critical issue, the current study used a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the efficacy of “HateLess. Together Against Hatred” (Krause et al., 2022) in reducing adolescents’ online hate speech perpetration and victimization and increasing their online hate speech countering.
Method: A sample of 820 adolescents aged 12 to 16 (M = 13.27, SD = 1.04) from 11 German schools was divided into an intervention group (n = 567), who underwent the one-week anti-hate speech program, and a control group (n = 253). To evaluate the impact of the HateLess program on reducing online hate speech perpetration and victimization, as well as enhancing online hate speech countering, we utilized a two-level multilevel mediation model using Mplus 8.7.
Results: The results revealed that program participation significantly reduced online hate speech perpetration and victimization while enhancing countering hate speech. Notably, the intervention’s success was partially mediated by increased empathy, which, in turn, predicted a decrease in hate speech perpetration and an increase in counter-speech, and by increased self-efficacy, which, in turn, was linked to reduced victimization and heightened countering hate speech.
Conclusion: These promising outcomes suggest that HateLess could be a viable strategy for mitigating hate speech engagement among adolescents. More specifically, the current study contributes to the broader goal of fostering a more inclusive and respectful online environment, thereby enhancing adolescents’ civic engagement and ability to navigate safely through the online world. While the study shows promising short-term effects, it is essential to consider the long-term sustainability of these changes. Therefore, follow-up studies are recommended to explore the long-term impact of HateLess and investigate ways to reinforce and sustain its positive outcomes.
References
Krause, N., Richter, M., & Wachs, S. (2022). HateLess. Gemeinsam gegen Hass. Ein Trainingsmanual für die Prävention von Hatespeech in der Schule. [HateLess. Together against hatred. A training manual for preventing hate speech in schools.] Universität Potsdam.
Seemann-Herz, L., Kansok-Dusche, J., Dix, A., Wachs, S., Krause, N., Ballaschk, C., Schulze-Reichelt, Friederike, & Bilz, L. (2022). Schulbezogene Programme zum Umgang mit Hatespeech – Eine kriteriengeleitete Bestandsaufnahme. [School-related programs to address hate speech – A criteria-based review] Zeitschrift für Bildungsforschung, 12, 597-614. https://doi.org/10.1007/s35834-022-00348-4
Wachs, S., Gámez-Guadix, M., & Wright, M.F. (2022). Hate speech victimization and depressive symptoms among adolescents: The protective role of resilience. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25(7), 416-423. http://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2022.0009
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