This document presents the "Get Ready to Act Against Social Media Propaganda" model for disrupting hate discourses online. The model is a 5-step process for youth to: 1) Analyze their own behavior and stances in the context of propaganda; 2) Question their positions; 3) Design counter-propaganda strategies; 4) Prepare themselves to act; and 5) Evaluate their readiness to engage in civic online reasoning and participatory politics against propaganda. The goal is to help youth become agents of change by developing media literacy, awareness of propaganda techniques, and a greater ability to leverage social media for issues that matter to them.

1. Disrupting Hate Discourses
Through the Adoption of the
‘Get Ready to Act Against
Social Media Propaganda’ Model
July, 2018
Nadia Naffi, PhD
Ann-Louise Davidson, PhD

2. Paris
Cologne
Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan
2 0 1 6
Brussels Nice
Feb
Quebec
Berlin
Edmonton
2 0 1 5
Mar Apr
London
Stokholm
2 0 1 7
May
ManchesterSome of the Events that Led to a High
Level of Online Reactions Against
Syrian Refugees and Muslims
Trump

3. Supporters
and critics of
M-103 (motion
condemning
Islamophobia)
clash across
Canada in
2017.

4. Muslim Refugees
=
Terrorsist Rapists

6. Alexandre Bissonnette
Research on youth and on social media claims that
youth are victims, easily manipulated by the plethora
of messages shared online.
(Wohn, Ellison, Khan, Fewins-Bliss, & Gray, 2013; Spears & Postmes, 2015)

12. “Substantial portions of youth are far less likely
than others to have voice and influence”
(Cohen, Kahne, Bowyer, Middaugh, & Rogowski, 2012)
They are reluctant to share their perspective
online and act as “power users (frequent
users)”, instead of “powerful users (influential
users)”.
(Kahne, Hodgin, & Eidman-Aadahl, 2016)

13. Used fake news
Exploited: social media algorithms
Exploited: perceived dissimilarities, perceived
threat, lack of contact, social categorization,
and locus of control
Propaganda Against the
Resettlement of Refugees

14. 1.How do youth construe online interactions about the Syrian
refugee crisis?
2.How do youth construe their role in the integration and the
inclusion of refugees in a context where the image of
refugees is deeply influenced by social media?
3.What knowledge and skills do youth develop when they
engage in analyzing their thoughts and behaviours in
regards to sensitive and controversial issues such as the
refugee crisis and resettlement?
4.How could this knowledge and these skills facilitate their
engagement in civic online reasoning and participatory
politics?
Research Questions

15. Ontario
Canada
Quebec
Canada
Portugal
Poland
Lebanon
Netherlands
Germany
Belgium
Ukraine
UK
France
Greece
126 Interviews
16-24 Years Old
150 hours of data

16. Integration Inclusion
Interdependent
Negotiation

17. 16
1. Kelly’s Self-
Characterization
Technique
2. Procter’s Perceiver
Element Grid (PEG)
(Qualitative Grid)
3. Kelly’s Repertory
Grid Technique
4. Hinkles’ Laddering
Technique
Methods

18. Unconscious filtering Explained online behaviour
Self-interest Sense of social responsibility
Worthless voice
Capable, empowered
and influential voice
Labeling Trying to understand
Offline and online dialogue
with refugees and host society
Offline intervention
with refugees
Results

19. Analyze
My behaviour
in the context
of social media
propaganda
Question
My position in
the context
of social media
propaganda ??
Evaluate
My readiness
to act against social
media propaganda
Design
My counter
propaganda
strategies
Prepare
Myself
to counter
social media
propaganda
Nadia Naffi 2018
Get Ready to Act Against Social Media Propaganda Model

20. “Know Thyself”:
An Essential Process to Confront Social Media Propaganda
Analyze
Analyze
my behaviour
in the context
of propaganda
Which strategies/
media usage/
messages draw my
attention?
How do I react to
propagandist
behaviours?
How do I explain my
network’s reaction?
How do I react to my
networks’ behaviours?
Why?
Design
the counter -
propaganda
strategies
to adopt
What goal(s) do I want
to achieve?
Who are my
audiences?
How do I perceive my
role in reaching this
goal?
What are my
knowledge, skills and
resources?
What actions should I
take?
Design
Why?
Address
the factors
influencing
my move
to action
Do I care?
Do I care enough to
act?
What are my action
catalysts?
How can I enhance
them?
What are my action
inhibiters?
How can I eliminate
them?
Prepare
Why?
Evaluate
What is my stance on
the issue?
Investigate
my stance
on a sensitive
controversial
issue targeted
by propaganda
Why?
Question
Evaluate
my readiness
to act
How confident am I to
actively engage in the
counter-propaganda
actions I planed?
Why?

21. ActEvaluate
Civic Online
Reasoning
…
Participatory
Politics
AnalyzeQuestion Design Prepare Evaluate
From Passive Bystanders to Agents of Change
…who engage in civic online reasoning, stand up to propaganda, identify
ways to leverage the power of social media and have greater control,
voice and influence over issues that matter most in their lives
Media Literacy Propaganda
Awareness
…

22. Thank you for listening!
Questions?