Prevention Online: Identifying misogyny and anti-democratic narratives, developing counter-strategies, strengthening practioners

This research and training project examines youth-oriented anti-democratic online discourses in Austria. It focuses on misogyny and toxic masculinity, as well as racist, antisemitic, anti-Muslim, xenophobic and conspiracy-driven narratives. The project analyses actors, networks, narratives and platform dynamics and develops evidence-based countermeasures for prevention and intervention.

Donor

Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection

Objectives

Mapping cross-phenomenon anti-democratic online ecosystems (actors, narratives, networks, platform migration).
Development of a digital toolkit, a handbook and an online campaign based on evidence-based counter-narratives.
Delivery of 15 multiplier workshops across Austria to build the capacity of practitioners from youth work, education, health services and public administration.
Co-creation workshops to strengthen outreach-oriented online youth work and to evaluate concrete online interventions.

Impact

PRANET provides a robust empirical foundation on youth-oriented anti-democratic online discourses in Austria. By offering openly accessible tools, strengthening practitioner capacity and evaluating concrete measures, the project reinforces prevention, digital resilience and evidence-based decision-making in policy, public administration and civil society.

Status

Ongoing