While the Internet offers a stream of information to experience and share, navigating securely in the complex online world can be a demanding task. The informed participation of all citizens in what is known as the digital environment depends on the development of a much broader literacy.
Digital citizenship is a term that describes how a person should act while using digital technology online. Some experts propose nine elements that comprise digital citizenship: digital access, digital consumerism, digital communication, digital literacy, digital etiquette, digital law, digital rights and responsibilities, digital health and wellness, and digital security. Whatever the composition of digital citizenship may be, it is clear that all users of the Internet have a responsibility and possibly even a duty to act responsibly when using the Internet and communications technologies. Internet literacy skills and tools are totally relevant and necessary for young people, especially to enable them to identify hate speech and to respond to it. It´s necessary that they analyse information critically, and be able to check its origin. In addition, youth workers play a crucial role of moderators between young people, society, and digital technologies. It is claimed that youth work has the potential to address young peoples’ digital literacy needs, which are often omitted at schools or at home.
In the digital environment, youth must have a place where they can learn about and discuss current challenges posed by hate speech in their communities and societies at large. They have to not only be engage in dialogue about the topic, but also have to collaboratively work towards creating a campaign to counter hate speech in various forms. Of course, in this last case, a more specific set of competences is needed to create positive messages and online campaign against hate speech. The content format and tone used need to reflect the values that the campaign stands for and be the most appropriate for the intended audience. The timing and the choice of social platforms in which the content is shared also requires careful consideration. In addition, with the power of the internet technologies youth can organize more efficiently and cheaply their online or offline campaigns. Moreover, identifying organizations that share their same causes and invite them to form a network or alliance of organizations, could be a powerful model that have a positive impact on their objectives.
