How can you support your candidates getting a lot of hate speech?
Hate speech is everywhere. It’s often cited as one of the dark sides of globalization, and the technological and communication revolution that came with it.
Social media has become not only a place to stay connected but also a point of reference, a source of belonging to many. And when there is “us”, then there must be “them”, as well. And although big tech companies are saying that they’re doing everything they can to help and be one step ahead of this new form of online verbal aggression, they just simply don’t have enough resources to tackle this vast and complex issue. It’s worth taking a look at what social moderators need to go through every day and why it’s an almost impossible task to keep these online spaces safe. And if it’s possible to take even high-level casualties (see Jacinda Ardern’s recent resignation in New Zealand), then you must face the fact that your candidates will not be an exception, so you need to do what you can to prepare and support them, during and after their candidacy as well.