Countering Hate Speech in the Postdigital: A Challenge for ‘Onlife Citizenship’

In the postdigital age, educational institutions are increasingly called to prevent and address hate speech. The Council of Europe’s Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)16 stresses the importance of countering forms of incitement that, although they are not illegal, threaten social cohesion, and democratic values. Teachers and educators must respond to both the polarization behind hate speech and the spread of misinformation in post-truth contexts. The different forms of hate on social media often share common psychological and social dynamics. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing an educational approach that is realistic and culturally aware. Media education must combine critical thinking with a sense of responsibility—encouraging learners to reflect on the consequences of their actions in digital spaces. This chapter situates hate speech within debates on technological neutrality, balancing between instrumentalist and determinist perspectives. In the chapter, hate speech is defined as a “useful but ambiguous” concept, it is explored how digital environments enable its diffusion, and it is examined how the new informational regime transforms racist discourse. Ultimately, hate speech is reframed as a media-educational issue, to be addressed through the lens of “Onlife Citizenship” and the active role of prosumers.