Digital Literacy and Dialogue; the Antidote to the deepening social and political polarisation

Mar 03, 2020

Educating young people about fake news and online and offline hate speech is an important issue that needs urgent attention.

By Muhsin Nuwagaba Kaduyu

When you take a closer look at our political environment today, you cannot help but get concerned about the future of our country.

We have witnessed fistfights among politicians that have left some gravely injured, strangers jumping into the plenary chambers and disrupting debate, and highly charged political rhetoric.

The situation is so extreme that it is no exaggeration to say that your choice about everyday matters - like which musician to listen to - and interaction with fellow citizens is deeply tied to your political profile. You risk becoming ‘the other', denied access and dehumanized because of your political views.

We have seen a number of artists pelted with bottles during their stage performances simply because they identify with a certain political party.

At this particular moment in our history, especially when general elections are around the corner, we must ask ourselves whether the current political dynamics are more or less conducive to producing citizens enriched and empowered by current political experiences to take their country forward.

The growing trend of incivility in our social life and the deeply divided political landscape is creating an unfortunate environment where it all seems like the bonds that hold the values of respect for diversity and tolerance among Ugandans are beginning to break.

What is even more disturbing is the way how this kind of intolerance and violence is becoming more prevalent in some sections of the mainstream media because all they care about is selling papers and fueling online clicks.

Political violence has been normalized and condoned and desensitized in the public's eye.

Through its comedic portrayal via news, using offensive humor jokes promoting destruction, and language in connection with political violence, the media has allowed society to view intolerance and violence as normal and more acceptable.

The so-called experts and some members of the political and media elite are very busy breeding sectarianism, anger and fear, loosely commenting on almost everything through political lenses with simplistic explanations aimed at inciting people to extreme action.

It is important, more than ever, that the role of the media be urgently debated. The silence must end, preferably before the outbreak of violence.

In such contentious times, we have important work to do to turn the tides of destruction.

Educating young people about fake news and online and offline hate speech is an important issue that needs urgent attention.

Research has shown that there is a woeful lack of digital and critical literacy programs in educational institutions.

These skills should be institutionalized and put at the forefront of our educational framework as highlighted in the UN's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism which states;

Education should include teaching respect for human rights and diversity, fostering critical thinking, promoting media and digital literacy, and developing the behavioural and socio-emotional skills that can contribute to peaceful coexistence and tolerance.

Additionally, it might be helpful to consider the importance of dialogue in our social and political discourse.

We have to take personal responsibility by joining or at the very least actively supporting the ongoing national dialogue where we all have an opportunity not just to listen to each other with respect and contribute to the ‘Uganda we want', but also cultivate a kind of civic friendship that will enable us to regard each other as fellow citizens and sharers in a common fate.

Each one of us contributes to communities and cultures and the societies we make up.

The end to this spiral of rage begins with every Ugandan refusing to endorse the digitally empowered, seductive and destructive impulses that deepen the political and social polarization and capable of leading to outbreaks of violence as seen in many parts of the world.

We just have to decide that it starts with us, embrace dialogue and build a better Uganda for generations to come.

The writer is a Youth Leader, Peace Practitioner and Youth Representative at the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum (AU-IFDF)

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