By Sharonne Namarome
As from Thursday this week, the world will be marking the Media Information Literacy (MIL) week, a week set aside to raise awareness on the importance of media and information literacy in empowering individuals to critically engage with media, navigate through the digital world, and make informed decisions. Additionally, the week focuses on promoting the skills necessary to access, evaluate, and create media contents responsibly, fostering a more informed, inclusive, and equitable society as well as addressing the challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech.
Despite the massive advancements in technology in today’s modern world, there is no doubt that online harassment and hate speech identify as some the most pressing issues in the digital age. These harmful behaviors have not only created toxic digital environments but also fuelled division, discrimination, and emotional distress across communities.
Hate speech, which may manifest in various forms based on race, gender, religion, or political views, has found a breeding ground in today’s online platforms. According to a recent report by the United Nations, online hate speech incidents surged by over 70 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbating discrimination and violence, especially towards marginalized groups. Women and girls remain the most affected, with a 2023 report by Plan International revealing that 58 percent of women under 35 have experienced online harassment, often forcing them to withdraw from social platforms. These alarming figures cries for attention.
Additionally, while the internet allows greater connectivity and expression, it has also empowered individuals to propagate harmful messages anonymously, with devastating consequences on victims. Online harassment has reached a critical level, particularly targeting women and the minorities resulting in severe mental health impacts such as anxiety, depression and social isolation.
During this MIL Week, it will be imperative to call on digital platforms, policymakers and users to take urgent action against hate speech and online harassment. It is time to hold tech companies accountable for creating safer spaces. While platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have made strides in implementing community guidelines, they must step up enforcement for effectiveness as the 2023 study report by Amnesty International found that less than 50 percent of hate speech cases reported on social media are acted upon, highlighting the need for better content moderation tools and algorithms that can swiftly identify and remove harmful content without stifling legitimate discourse.
The government should also enact clear policies and legal frameworks to combat hate speech and protect individuals from cyberbullying. However, any legislation must strike a balance to ensure that freedom of expression is not curtailed in the process.
On an individual level, users must be equipped with the tools to combat hate speech online. Media and information literacy is key to this. As digital citizens, we must learn how to identify harmful content, challenge discrimination and report abuses on the platforms we use. It is essential that we foster online environments based on respect, understanding and inclusivity.
Additionally, educational campaigns should be launched to teach both young people and adults about the dangers of hate speech, the importance of empathy online and strategies for standing up against harassment. Every user has the power to either contribute to or fight against the toxic culture that often exists on the internet.
Let us take collective action this Media and Information Literacy Week to build a more respectful and safer digital world for all. The future of online spaces depends on our vigilance, empathy and commitment to ensuring that hate has no place in our digital conversations.
Sharon Namarome is a youth advocate at NAYA Kenya