When Online Hate Spills Offline: Why Inclusion Matters More Than Ever
During the 2024 European Parliament elections, harmful online rhetoric reached worrying levels. According to the FRA (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights) toxic narratives circulating on social media were linked to rising tensions across several Member States. Reports documented attacks against campaign workers in Germany and Italy, over 378 criminal proceedings linked to election-related violence in Hungary, and even an assassination attempt targeting Slovakia’s Prime Minister.
These events remind us that hate speech online is not “just words.” When a digital environment becomes saturated with hostility, misinformation, or dehumanizing language, it can increase polarization and lower the threshold for real-world aggression.
But highlighting the risks is only half of the picture.
At HATE-LESS.EU, we focus on strengthening the antidote: inclusion, critical thinking, and positive digital participation. By helping educators and young people understand how harmful content spreads, we support them in building online communities centered around dialogue (instead of division).
Research in digital psychology consistently shows that communities where young people feel included and represented are less vulnerable to radicalization or harmful narratives. Encouraging respectful interaction, offering accessible tools for reporting hate, and fostering a sense of belonging all contribute to healthier online spaces.
The events of the 2024 elections underline why this work matters. Preventing digital harm means investing in the social and emotional skills that keep communities strong, online and offline.
Source:
• FRA – Fundamental Rights Report 2025
Partner Websites:
EUROPEAN YOUTH4MEDIA NETWORK EV – Germany: https://youth4media.eu/
EESTI PEOPLE TO PEOPLE – Estonia https://www.ptpest.ee/
MITRA FRANCE – France: https://www.facebook.com/mitrafr/
Formation et Sensibilisation de Luxembourg – Luxembourg: https://fslux.lu/
Evolutionary Archetypes Consulting SL – Spain: https://ea.consulting/
WAVES FOUNDATION FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION – Cyprus: https://www.wavesfoundation.org/
Join The Hate-Less Movement
Be part of the movement against hate speech and disinformation! Stay updated and engaged by following us on our official platforms:
- Website: https://hate-less.eu
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hateless_eu
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/hateless.eu
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hate-less-eu
- X (Twitter): https://x.com/HATELESS_EU
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HATE-LESS-EU
Join the conversation and help create a more inclusive and hate-free digital world!
