One in four 16 to 20-year-olds has experienced hate speech online in the past year, while only four per cent of the general population have experienced the same. Additionally, 12 per cent of young people state that they have been exposed to hate speech aimed at skin colour, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. These are statements that are prohibited under the Penal Code.
These findings inspired Norway’s theme for Safer Internet Day (SID) 2022. A survey was conducted with a smaller group of teenagers sharing their thoughts and experiences on online hate, and used both quantitative and qualitative methods.
If anyone in the world can come up with a way to stop online hate, I'll be surprised. People will always find a way to hate.
16-year-old boy
The goal for SID 2022 was to involve young people in a campaign to raise awareness and “Stop the online hate” (#stoppnetthatet). The Norwegian Safer Internet Centre reached out to one of Norway’s most popular young influencers and YouTubers, Herman Dahl. The collaboration provided content on a campaign platform and a voice that youth respond to. The aim was to inspire young people to not comment in a hateful way, but to instead to respond to hateful online comments with a facepalm emoji to symbolise a way to dissociate from hate; that is, to take a stand without themselves being hateful.
The digital event on SID 2022 was an “online class”, again led by Herman Dahl, and produced by students at a media/TV high school in Oslo. It was important for the Safer Internet Centre that youth were part of the whole process. The broadcast featured the police, helpline, the Minister of Equality and Culture, as well as the Director General of the Norwegian Media Authority.
Approximately 6,000 pupils between the ages of 13 and 16 saw the event in their classrooms on Safer Internet Day itself, Tuesday 8 February. This number of young participants was unprecedented for the Norwegian Media Authority, and a huge success for the campaign.
The campaign continues throughout the entire month of February, with more social media content from Herman Dahl, and with advice, knowledge and teaching resources on the Norwegian Safer Internet Centre’s website.
Find out more about the work of the Norwegian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services – or find similar information for Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
Find out more about the annual global celebration of Safer Internet Day more generally here.
One in four 16 to 20-year-olds has experienced hate speech online in the past year, while only four per cent of the general population have experienced the same. Additionally, 12 per cent of young people state that they have been exposed to hate speech aimed at skin colour, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. These are statements that are prohibited under the Penal Code.
These findings inspired Norway’s theme for Safer Internet Day (SID) 2022. A survey was conducted with a smaller group of teenagers sharing their thoughts and experiences on online hate, and used both quantitative and qualitative methods.
If anyone in the world can come up with a way to stop online hate, I'll be surprised. People will always find a way to hate.
16-year-old boy
The goal for SID 2022 was to involve young people in a campaign to raise awareness and “Stop the online hate” (#stoppnetthatet). The Norwegian Safer Internet Centre reached out to one of Norway’s most popular young influencers and YouTubers, Herman Dahl. The collaboration provided content on a campaign platform and a voice that youth respond to. The aim was to inspire young people to not comment in a hateful way, but to instead to respond to hateful online comments with a facepalm emoji to symbolise a way to dissociate from hate; that is, to take a stand without themselves being hateful.
The digital event on SID 2022 was an “online class”, again led by Herman Dahl, and produced by students at a media/TV high school in Oslo. It was important for the Safer Internet Centre that youth were part of the whole process. The broadcast featured the police, helpline, the Minister of Equality and Culture, as well as the Director General of the Norwegian Media Authority.
Approximately 6,000 pupils between the ages of 13 and 16 saw the event in their classrooms on Safer Internet Day itself, Tuesday 8 February. This number of young participants was unprecedented for the Norwegian Media Authority, and a huge success for the campaign.
The campaign continues throughout the entire month of February, with more social media content from Herman Dahl, and with advice, knowledge and teaching resources on the Norwegian Safer Internet Centre’s website.
Find out more about the work of the Norwegian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services – or find similar information for Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
Find out more about the annual global celebration of Safer Internet Day more generally here.
- Safer Internet Day (SID) hate speech digital citizenship
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