According to a United Nations official, only 20 percent of people report online hate speech due to a lack of knowledge about the reporting process or even the possibility of doing so. Some reports are ignored by social media platforms because they fail to identify certain comments as hate speech.
Hate speech refers to language that is offensive and derogatory, aimed at an individual or group based on attributes like religion, race, or gender. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, describes hateful conduct as “direct attacks against people — not ideas or institutions.”
Adeline Hulin, Chief of Unit for Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and digital competencies at Unesco, highlighted that many encounter hate speech but only 20 percent report it, as revealed by a Unesco study. This issue was discussed during the Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi, where Hulin noted the lack of tools for reporting such incidents.
Enhancing Media Literacy Through Technology
Technological platforms are focusing on empowering users to control their digital interactions. Hulin emphasized that these platforms are interested because it’s manageable for them. Unesco prefers leveraging technology to enhance media literacy rather than solely relying on training. “While we can train people to spot fake content, technology can do it faster and more effectively,” she explained.
Guidance for Parents and Content Creators
In the panel session, Hulin advised parents to engage in discussions with their children about the content they consume. “Instead of just limiting screen time, parents should reflect on their own habits and have conversations about them,” she suggested.
Parents are encouraged to be curious about the information and content creators their children follow. “The idea is to involve media consumption in family conversations, as it is often done independently by children now,” she added.
For content creators, Hulin stressed the importance of understanding ethical standards and being trained in them, which Unesco can facilitate. She noted many creators are unaware of international free expression standards.
Unesco’s initiatives in media and information literacy foster critical thinking and ethical AI usage, aiming to combat misinformation and close knowledge gaps, particularly among youth and marginalized groups. They collaborate globally with local partners to tailor content to specific regions.
