UK charities unite in addressing hate speech on social media

With the rise of hate speech and abusive rhetoric being posted on social media, internet platforms are taking action.

Google now bans hate speech, harassment, abusive and conspiracy theory content videos from showing on YouTube. Twitter excludes hate speech and racist videos from being posted or blocks the content with a warning to the viewer. By taking these steps, Twitter and Google are trying to create an inclusive, safe space for all. But not all social media platforms are following suit.

So UK charities have decided to take action by assigning a cohesive group to actively review social media hate speech policies and based upon these results, the group will collectively choose where to allocate social media spend.

UK Charities take a stance against online hate speech

UK charities rely on social media, even more so during a post-lockdown era. Social media is how supporters, team members, and the public connect with them, and with each other. Having an online presence is extremely beneficial (i.e. provide online support, receive donations). But there is a worry that hate speech is encountered when people are looking for help online.

So UK charities have decided to join forces and solve this problem together. They created one big working group to review online policies and make recommendations, accordingly.

Health in Mind, Barnardo’s, Help for Heroes, and approximately 36 other UK charities are working together to review social media platforms and their policies.

The working group reviews which social media platforms take ethical and tangible stances against hate speech. They then review where to allocate social media spend based upon the data collected and share with the rest of the UK charities.

“No one should have to see these messages in their day to day lives, and especially not when trying to access ongoing information and support.”

Charities understand how on-brand messaging and their values interweave into everything they do. So having online users encounter hate speech as they try to reach the charities creates an instant negative space. It sends the wrong message. But taking action, like these charities are doing, by using spend as their voices, speaks volumes to audiences and the public.

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Image: Bruno Figueiredo | Unsplash