PROPS – Interactive Narratives Propose Pluralistic Discourse (props—slang for proper respect [due respect]) intends to act on prevention and education for the media, with a view to containing hate speech online. This is a project in the area of Communication Sciences, which involves the University of Algarve, The Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, The Open University, and the University of Beira Interior.

Playing an online game or interacting on a social network, a gaming community, or a digital platform is part of the daily life of most children, young people, and adolescents. It has, however, implications on their personality development and influences their behavior and conflict management skills.

During the pandemic—especially during lockdowns—many everyday activities (such as going to school) were transferred to the virtual sphere. Therefore, children, young people, and adolescents’ exposure to hate speech has increased; however, they have not been provided with the necessary tools and strategies to manage such situations. Besides, the pandemic has given rise to a new wave of virtual toxicity, bringing with it an increase in discrimination and intolerance, just when children and young people were most dependent on digital platforms. Although some European and national laws—as well as the European Union Code of Conduct—have taken some important steps in combating online hate speech, digital spheres remain ungovernable.

It is in this context that this project is created. Interactive Narratives Propose Pluralistic Discourse (PROPS [slang for proper respect – due respect]) focuses on developing a new approach to hate speech through the creation of interactive narratives (both digital and analog) that can attract, motivate, and engage educators, trainers, children, and young people to take an active role in containing hate speech online. The project proposes the analysis of hate speech and the development of transmedia educational tools (with complementary narratives) that focus on its social challenges.

The project team is led by CIAC researchers Bruno Mendes da Silva and Ana Filipa Martins and composed of specialists with experience in the fields of Education, Media Studies, and Media literacy, and the creation and production of interactive films, video games and educational pathways based on gamification: Mirian Tavares, Carolina de Sousa, António Costa Valente, Susana Costa and Patrícia Dourado (CIAC/UAlg); Maria Potes Barbas and José Dias (CIAC/IPSantarém); José Bidarra (CIAC/UAB); Francisco Merino and Luís Nogueira (University of Beira Interior).

The project starts in March 2023 and is funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

More information here.