Group discussion during BEAT-IT in Hungary, 2019
Bullying Education Awareness and Tactics for Inclusion and Tolerance gives priority to people with the obstacle of fewer opportunities including young disabled people and people who have a lived experience of bullying, intolerance and prejudice in order to be able to fully address the issues of e-safety, the lack of digital literacy and appropriate use of social media amongst young people.
The main objectives of BEAT IT! are:
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To improve critical thinking skills
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To improve communication skills
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To improve competences in creativity in digital media
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To improve collaboration using digital tools
This development of best practice in social media aims to reduce hate speech, cyberbullying and combat the rise of populism and extremism on the internet for young people with fewer opportunities both with and without internet access to social media platforms and within traditional communities.
Cognitive Bias Workshop workshop from the first BEAT-IT exchange in Kaunas, Lithuania, 2018
BEAT IT! is based on the knowledge, research and understanding gained from five previous Erasmus+ projects on inclusion. Young disabled and non-disabled people investigated the themes of communication, inclusion, integration and safety for young disabled and non-disabled people in traditional communities as well as the modern communities of social media.
Whilst internet access provides great benefits in discovering things about the world, it also causes collateral issues in terms of e-safety. It was felt that digital literacy was poor. A recurring theme was that bullying and intolerance had become rife on social media not just for young people, but for everyone in society and this seemed to be reflected powerfully in traditional communities, creating intolerance, hate speech and prejudice especially against people with fewer opportunities as well as a rise in “fake news” and populism. It was thought that social media had had a significant role in the current shift from democratic liberalism to a rise in prejudice and right-wing extremism.
Participants can access free group or one-to-one support from a professional counsellor during daily Safe Space.
All the activities during the project are designed to get all of the people involved inclusively and to encourage the participation and motivation of all of them.
BEAT-IT!
Bullying Education Awareness and Tactics for Inclusion and Tolerance