Creating Safe & Inclusive Digital Communities

Written By Makenna Riley

Today, the internet is a prominent part of everyones lives. It connects us with friends, and family, also giving information and opportunities in just seconds. However, it's also a space where inappropriate content and hateful ideologies can spread quickly. Creating positive online spaces is crucial for counteracting the spread of this content and ensuring the internet remains a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. Shelve the Hate is here to discuss and share the importance of positive online spaces and offer tips for creating inclusive and supportive digital communities. We have also provided links to current, active, safe online spaces.

The Benefits of Positive Online Spaces

Positive online spaces promote mental well-being, encourage healthy interactions, and provide a safe environment for expression. They help reduce the risk of online radicalization by fostering a sense of belonging and support

Strategies for Creating and Maintaining Positive Online Spaces

  1. Set Clear Expectations Create guidelines for respectful behavior, emphasizing inclusivity and support. Make these rules easily accessible and enforced. Some community forums ban hate speech and bullying, promoting respectful discussions instead.

  2. Promote Positive Content Encourage sharing uplifting and educational content to counterbalance negative influences. Social media groups can regularly share stories of community service and positive news.

  3. Encourage Supportive Interactions Foster a culture of support and encouragement. Members should help each other, share resources, and provide positive feedback. Online study groups can utilize One World Strong’s ResilienceNet app where members ask for and offer help with difficult subjects regarding anxiety, violence, and trauma support.

  4. Provide Resources and Education Equip your community with tools and knowledge to navigate the online world safely. Offer resources on improving critical thinking skills and recognizing harmful content. School websites can provide toolkits and games created by infOasis promoting digital literacy and identifying fake news.

  5. Moderate Effectively Effective moderation ensures a positive environment. Make sure that trusted moderators enforce rules, address conflicts, and remove harmful content. Gaming communities can have moderators who monitor discussions and ensure all guidelines are followed.

Successful and Active Online Communities

  1. Kindness.org

    • Promotes acts of kindness and positive change.

  2. Humans of New York

    • Share stories to promote empathy and understanding.

  3. The Mighty

    • Supports people facing health issues, mental health struggles, and living with disabilities

How You Can Contribute

Creating positive online spaces is a collective effort. Be respectful, share positive content, report harmful behavior, educate yourself and others, and support those around you. By making an impact no matter how big or small, we can make the internet a safer, more positive place for everyone by safeguarding communities, one page at a time.

Makenna Riley

I am a proud graduate of Ohio Dominican University, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Marketing Communications with minors in Art and Human Resources Management. Currently, I serve as an Undergraduate Admissions Counselor at Ohio Dominican University. Through dedication and hard work, I completed my 4-year degree in just 3 years, immersing myself in a liberal arts education that opened numerous opportunities for growth and learning. I also am one of the 4 co-founders of Shelve the Hate and I have found an underlying passion for helping those in my community to help minimize targeted gun violence. I hope as Shelve the Hate continues to grow, we can impact the lives of many individuals and help them in the this fight.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrileyprmarcom/