by Katrin Hünemörder, Executive Director, mediale pfade, Germany
Finally a wake-up call: In Germany’s 2024 elections, the far-right AfD gained alarming support from first-time voters. Researchers traced this shift partly to social media platforms like TikTok, where undemocratic and polarising content circulates in subtle and viral formats.
The 2024 election proves the strong influence that Social Media platforms,with frontrunner TikTok have on shaping political opinions particularly of young people, who spend significant time on the platform to receive information about political content. Extremist actors have long realised the potential that Social Media offers to spread polarising content of group-related misanthropy especially in short video formats. The need for preventative, empowering media education has become clearer than ever.
At mediale pfade, we launched AntiAnti already in 2018 to support young people in
navigating these digital realities. Our mission: to prevent online radicalisation and strengthen democratic resilience by combining political and media education. We work with youth aged 14–21 in schools and youth centres across Berlin and Brandenburg, offering free workshops that speak their language – literally and digitally.
What sets AntiAnti apart is its approach. We meet young people where they are: online, on
TikTok, YouTube or WhatsApp, in the middle of influencer trends, algorithm-driven content, and viral memes. Our workshops explore how extremist actors manipulate emotions, reframe crises, and embed ideological messages into everyday content – often unnoticed. The goal isn’t to tell young people what to think, but to encourage them to ask: who is talking here, and why?
In our workshop and professional development formats we discuss how phenomena like right wing extremism, antisemitism, antifeminism, islamism and conspiracy narratives are conveyed online and often packaged as lifestyle content. Our goal is to enable young people to critically reflect and decode content they are consuming on social media, develop own value-based positions and empower them to develop options for actions online.
All of the concepts and methods we develop within our projects and therefore with public funds are published as open educational resources (OER) with a creative commons license that allow complete reuse and adaptation of the materials. An example for an OER workshop format is FACT or FAKE? – Decoding Disinformation and Staying Informed.
In this hands-on session, participants begin by analysing different TikTok videos around a current event. Some are factual, others clearly manipulative. They explore how sound, visuals, and tone shape perception and learn to spot techniques like emotional framing or false authority.
Next, it’s time to get creative: in a role-play activity, participants take on the roles of different media players – from serious journalists to sensationalist outlets or radical influencers – and produce their own short video reports. Through this practical exercise, they experience how easily content can be twisted, and how impactful digital storytelling can be. They also reflect on the line between fact-based reporting and manipulative messaging. This combination of analysis and production is key to our method. It fosters critical thinking and media skills, but also builds confidence in expressing one’s own views. In a digital world where young people are often passive recipients of content, we invite them to become active, reflective contributors.
We also know that change doesn’t happen in a vacuum. That’s why we offer practical training to teachers and social workers – equipping them to recognise early signs of radicalisation and deal with difficult discussions around hate speech or conspiracy myths. Educators are often key figures in the everyday lives of young people, and we see them as crucial allies in building long- term democratic resilience.
That said, we face real challenges. Social media content is fast-moving and algorithmically
curated – but also increasingly polarised. In our workshops, we encounter young people with very different backgrounds and experiences: some are directly affected by racism, antisemitism or sexism; others have internalised exclusionary narratives. Reaching them all requires careful facilitation and adaptable methods.
We also see the shifting public discourse: far-right talking points have entered the mainstream, and hateful comments are no longer taboo in many classrooms. For us, that means clearly defining boundaries, centring the needs of those affected by discrimination, and creating space for meaningful, values-based dialogue. And sometimes, it means protecting these spaces when democratic norms are challenged.
Despite these obstacles, we remain hopeful. We see how eager many young people are to
learn, reflect, and take action – when given the chance. We see the difference it makes when they feel they are taken seriously and are invited to contribute to the conversation.
AntiAnti is more than a prevention project – it’s a call for inclusive, critical, and empowering
media education. And it’s a growing community of educators, activists, and young people who want to shape a digital culture that is open, democratic, and just.
Winner of the Dieter Baacke prize 2022 for excellent media education – presentation video – auto-translation in English.
If you’d like to learn more or collaborate, visit wirsindantianti.org. And if you want to try our
method yourself, start here: FACT or FAKE? – Decoding Disinformation and Staying Informed. More information about mediale pfade is available on our website https://medialepfade.org/. You can find an overview of our work setting, topics and selected formats in this presentation.
AntiAnti is a project funded by the Berlin senate department for education, youth and family.
