Project AntiAnti @wirsindantianti
Founded: 2018 in Berlin, 2024 in Brandenburg
Pedagogical Approaches: Media Education, Political Education, Primary/Universal Prevention
Areas of Focus: Extreme Right, Anti-Semitism, Conspiracy Ideology, Anti-Feminism, Disinformation
Project Pillars: Workshops for Young People, Training for Educational Professionals
Our Prevention Framework
Key educational pillars:
Media literacy integrated with political education
Critical thinking in political contexts
Decoding subliminal extremist online-narratives
Understanding platform mechanics and business models
Building ambiguity tolerance
Methodological Approach
Media criticism + active media production
Creating safe analysis spaces (i.e. by simulating platform interfaces for controlled analysis)
Balancing authentic examples with ethical concerns
Participatory learning structures
Dagstuhl Triangle
Based on the Dagstuhl Triangle for Digital Education (GI, 2016)
Current Challenges in Germany
AfD performance among first-time voters (recent elections) Influence of right-wing actors on TikTok (Tjaden et al. 2024) Online-offline connection: Digital mobilization leading to real-world actions
Shifting discourse boundaries: Previously extreme positions becoming normalized
Focus Platforms and Content Types
Platforms we analyze: TikTok (primary focus for recent work)
Instagram Messenger services (Telegram)
Content types we target:
Pseudo-journalistic formats
Lifestyle-embedded political messaging
Trend-based extremist content
Coded language and symbols
Algorithms favor provocative content that generates reactions
Engagement increases as content approaches platform policy boundaries
Emotionally charged content gets more views and reactions
Ellison, J., Kao, J., & Merrill, J. (2023). "Using Facebook's Own Data to Understand the Platform's Role in Jan. 6."
How this is exploited:
Actors deliberately approach but don't cross moderation boundaries
Content is designed to maximize emotional responses
Platform mechanics are studied and exploited
The Role of Sounds on TikTok
Sounds function as content, meme, and hashtag simultaneously
New target groups are reached through strategic sound use
Sound creates emotional connection and recognition
New Right Aesthetics
"Fashwave" and "Tradwave"
aesthetics use specific visual styles
Glorification of "traditional"
lifestyles
Pop culture references with extremist political messages subtly introduced
Successful formats are copied (e.g. street surveys)
Normalization of right-wing ideologies
Appearance, speech, and filming locations not associated with right-wing ideology
Ex. "Ketzer der Neuzeit "
Specific Online-Strategies
Dogwhistling: Using coded language understood by insiders (e.g., "drink milk everyday")
Hashtag hijacking: Taking over trending hashtags for ideological purposes ("Stolz"-Monat)
Specific emojis as coded signals (��, ��, ...)
Numerical codes (18, 28, 88, ...)
Method Showcase: Anti-Feminism TikTok Puzzle (Prototype)
Purpose: Decode implicit anti-feminist messages
Target age: 14+ years
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Content domains
Method Showcase: Analysis Dimensions
Screen as game board
Dissecting comments
Strategic use of emotions
Rating what drives algorithmic engagement
Analyzing comments and hashtags
Identifying common extremist narratives
Key Insights
Recognition of cross-domain influence
Understanding of engagement-driven amplification
Identification of emotional manipulation
techniques
Patterns across different content types
Shift in understanding from "what
I like" to "how this is designed to influence me"
Current Situation and Next Steps
Challenges:
Growing demand exceeds our resources
Increasing polarization in classrooms
Digital divides in access and literacy
Looking forward:
Further integration into school curricula
Building long-term school partnerships
Expanded teacher training programs
Disseminating open educational resources