Safer Digital Space

The discussion on tech-facilitated violence highlights how platforms fail to protect marginalised communities. But what can we, as individuals, actually do when we witness online hate?

The discussion on tech-facilitated violence highlights how platforms fail to protect marginalised communities. But what can we, as individuals, actually do when we witness online hate, harassment, or exclusion? As part of the EU-funded Bystander to Upstander project, Stichting Fairspace equips young people with practical tools to respond safely and constructively in online spaces. In this interactive workshop, we move from awareness to action: exploring the different forms of online harassment and practicing the 5Ds of Bystander Intervention – concrete strategies anyone can use to step up without escalating conflict or putting themselves at risk. By the end of this workshop, participants will walk away with confidence and skills to contributing to safer, more inclusive digital communities.

Together with Zeynep Uğur Martina Kalčić

In this session together we will:

1. Name the problem: We begin by unpacking what harassment looks like online, why it is so pervasive and the lasting impact it has on individuals and communities.

2. Step into others’ shoes: Through the activity ‘More Than a Profile’, participants explore fictional online identities, the types of harassment people face, and empathise with the ripple effects of harm across days, weeks, and months.

3. See the power of bystanders: In Tic-Tac-Toe+, a playful yet powerful exercise, we examine privilege, power, and how bystander choices can shift outcomes.

4. Practice intervention strategies: Using the Intervention Star, participants co-create practical responses to online harassment scenarios. We connect these to the 5Ds of Bystander Intervention (Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, Direct), offering a flexible toolkit anyone can use safely.

5. Shift the culture online: With Drown Out the Harassment, we practice overwhelming harmful content with positive messages and care, exploring how collective action can change what is visible and valued online.

6. Commit to change: We close with each participant developing their own Online Code of Care – three small commitments to make their digital spaces safer and more inclusive.

In this session you can expect:

A safe, participatory environment
Realistic scenarios that resonate with online life
Practical, creative tools you can immediately apply
A focus on grounded empowerment in the here and now