ISD & TIE launch new educational tool to combat online hate & disinformation in Scotland

ISD in the Media

The Digital Discourse Initiative, developed through an international partnership between the Scottish education charity Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) Germany, aims to tackle concerns around online disinformation and hate, including racism, misogyny and anti-LGBT prejudice, as highlighted by ISD research. Teenagers involved in the program’s development have expressed concern that online hatred is being “normalised and minimised.” To address this growing issue, the initiative offers educational modules covering topics such as radicalisation, online hate, countering disinformation and social media usage. Available at no cost to all teachers in Scotland, the initiative can be accessed via the Digital Discourse website.

The initiative is featured in The Herald, a Scottish newspaper.

Nathalie Rücker, Senior Manager for Capacity Building and Civic Action at ISD Germany, stated:

“It’s essential for young people to have access to resources and discourse spaces to understand the power structures behind online hate in order to protect themselves and others. By developing critical digital citizenship skills, young people can better recognise the motives and goals of those spreading harmful content, while also unpacking the dehumanising narratives that often underpin these attacks, which can manifest in violence in the offline world as well.

This understanding not only empowers young people to identify and challenge hate but also serves as a vital preventative measure, building resilience against online extremism and hate. Through the research of ISD and other organisations in the sector, we’ve learned that online hate and disinformation are not only growing in scale but also in complexity. The problem is increasingly targeted, affecting specific groups-especially marginalised communities with harmful and divisive rhetoric.

In this context, it is equally important to understand the risks and vulnerabilities of digital platforms and how they influence the creation of digital public discourse. The Digital Discourse Initiative empowers teachers in Scotland with exactly these tools to guide young people in understanding these complex dynamics, fostering a safer, more inclusive digital world.”