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Lesson Plan

Online Hate and Harassment and What We Can do About It

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GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School

COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Speaking & Listening, Language

SEL STANDARDS*: Self Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making

Online Hate and Harassment Survey

Online hate and harassment are ongoing problems in our society today. Many people experience online hate and harassment, which can cause stress, fear and harm, especially to those who are members of marginalized identity groups. Online hate and harassment impact people’s experiences when they spend time online, and because people spend a great deal of time online these days, the online hate and harassment that people face and witness can fundamentally affect their daily lives. ADL conducts a nationally representative annual survey of online hate and harassment to determine how many American adults experience hate or harassment on social media. Since 2022, the survey has also been conducted with teenagers, ages 13-17. 

About the Lesson Plan

This lesson provides an opportunity for students to learn more about online hate and harassment by reading and analyzing ADL’s recent survey about it, reflecting on their own experiences with online hate and harassment and considering how online hate and harassment can be addressed.  

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will understand what online hate and harassment are.

  • Students will examine the increase and severity of online hate and harassment by reading and analyzing a survey. 

  • Students will reflect on their own experiences with online hate and harassment and compare those experiences to the survey data. 

  • Students will explore what can be done to address, reduce and prevent online hate and harassment. 

*Based on CASEL's SEL Framework