Digital media are part of everyday life for young people. They use them to learn, build friendships, and participate in social and political discussions. At the same time, digital spaces are also places where cyberbullying, hate speech, discrimination, and disinformation occur. Experiences like these are an increasingly common feature of young people's digital lives. This can affect their well-being, identity development, and trust in democratic institutions.

International developments further intensify these dynamics. The war in Ukraine has increased the spread of disinformation and online hate. In Moldova, social and political tensions shape debates about EU accession. In Kyrgyzstan, ethnopolitical conflicts and social inequalities are increasing the risk of social tensions. In the digital sphere, young people experience discrimination and disadvantages, for example based on gender or social background. In all these contexts, digital hostility and real-life conflicts can reinforce one another.

The initiative responds to this complexity by combining empirical research with educational practice and strengthening cooperation between the participating countries. Its goal is to promote digital civic courage, democratic participation, and inclusive online spaces.

The project combines research, practical experience, and political engagement.

Research

We are studying how young people experience online hate, cyberbullying, and disinformation. To learn more about experiences with online hate, we regularly conduct large-scale, internationally comparative studies in Germany, Ukraine, Moldova, and Kyrgyzstan.

Education

We translate research findings into practical solutions. Our primary target groups are young people and education professionals. Our initiatives include the ReAction training program in Kyrgyzstan, workshops on misogyny in gaming, cyberbullying prevention, social media participation for young people with disabilities, and project weeks against hate on the internet at schools.

Policy Engagement

We collaborate with ministries, government agencies, and civil society organizations to translate research findings into policy actions. This includes events organized in partnership with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education, an ongoing partnership with the Moldovan Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and policy briefs developed for national stakeholders.

The initiative has produced a substantial empirical base. A representative online survey in 2025 reached over 2,000 young people in Kyrgyzstan, providing one of the first large-scale datasets on digital harm in Central Asia. International surveys in Germany, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Kyrgyzstan in 2024 together engaged more than 6,000 adolescents and young adults. Together, these studies allow systematic comparison across very different political, cultural, and digital contexts.

Findings have informed both academic discussions and practical work on the ground. Pilot and continuing education formats have been developed and tested with young people, students, and professionals.

Publications and Outputs

Levin, J., Neri, N. C., & Retelsdorf, J. (2025). Cyberhate among Ukrainian adolescents in war-torn Ukraine: A study of exposure, victimization, and perpetration. Computers in Human Behavior, 168, 108626.

Levin J., Doolbekova, J., Osmonova, A., Zholchubekova A. (2026). The Challanges of Online Aggression Among Teenagers and Youth in Kyrgyzstan. https://taalimforum.kg/images/Report/policy-brief-online-aggression-youth-kyrgyzstan-en-2026.pdf