Childnet have launched ‘Talk it over’, a new research-led resource designed to support educators in facilitating empathetic, honest, and evidence-based conversations on online hate and how to tackle it with secondary aged pupils. This blog takes a closer look at this resource and the way that educators can use it to support the young people they work with.
The research behind the resource
In July 2020, Childnet undertook a research project with over 2,000 British young people, aged 13-17 years old.
The research found that the internet is the most likely place for young people to witness hate and that 80% of young people had seen something hateful online aimed at a particular group in the last year.
We found that nine out of ten young people agreed that no one should be targeted with online hate because of their gender, race, religion, sexuality, disability or transgender identity and 72% of young people believe that people their age have an important role to play in tackling online hate and creating a kinder internet for everyone.
What is Talk it over?
Talk it over is:
- written for use with young people aged 13-17 years old,
- informed by research led with over 2000 British young people,
- made up of quick activities designed to be engaging and adaptable,
- accompanied by key guidance for educators coving topics such as the law, safeguarding and reporting,
- free to download.
There are four sections within Talk it over, each with their own learning objectives:
- To understand what is meant by ‘online hate’ and why people may use the internet to express it.
- To examine the impact of online hate on people who are targeted and those who see it happening.
- To develop strategies for responding to online hate, including reporting it.
- To explore and develop ways to make the internet a more accepting and inclusive place.
Each section includes an infographic supported by key questions to guide discussions whilst sharing relevant findings and statistics from the 2020 research; and two short teaching activities which can be delivered in a 10-20 minute session and explore the themes arising from the research in greater detail.
Young people are already using the internet in innovative and inspiring ways to enact change in their communities and celebrate difference. It is our hope that by sharing the findings from our research, and the real experiences of young people that it represents, we can empower even more young people to talk it over.
Teachers and Educators can find the Talk it over resource on the Childnet website.
