Navigating the Digital Space: Conflict-Sensitive Support Strategies for Refugee Adolescents

In today’s digital age, the internet can be a double-edged sword, particularly for young individuals navigating the complexities of war and refuge. The project, "Navigating the Digital Space: Conflict-Sensitive Support Strategies for Refugee Adolescents," delves into the pressing issue of cyberbullying and hate speech—phenomena that cultivate an atmosphere of prejudice, discrimination, and in extreme cases, incite violence. This research, conducted in collaboration with partners from Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Ukraine, is especially critical as children and adolescents in conflict-affected regions are found to be highly vulnerable to the harmful impacts of online hate speech.

Recent studies have shown that exposure to such digital hostility not only triggers negative emotions like anger, sadness, and shame but can also diminish trust and potentially lead to political radicalization. Victims often find themselves ill-equipped with the necessary coping mechanisms to counteract these effects, sometimes resorting to revenge. Our study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how digital media can exacerbate conflicts among young refugees and their peers in similar environments. By focusing on the socio-emotional challenges and conflicts these adolescents face, we seek to identify effective support strategies that can mitigate the adverse effects of digital space conflicts. Through this initiative, we aspire to foster a safer, more inclusive online environment for all youth, particularly those in vulnerable situations.

Project Team:

Julia Levin, Project Management

Dr. Nadine Cruz Neri, Data analysis lead

Cooperation partners:

Dr. Prof. Svitlana Khadzhyradieva, State University of Intelligent Technologies and Communications (Ukraine)

Oxana Alistratova PhD, NGO «INTERACTION» (Transnistria)

Asatiani Nato, associate professor, Faculty of Psychology and Tbilisi State University (Georgia)

Jyldyz Doolbekova, Ph.D, The Taalim-Forum Pubic Foundation (Kyrgyzstan)

Svetlana Haraz, Free International University in Moldova

Funding:

DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), East-Western Dialogue program

Project duration:

January 2024 - December 2024