Imagine logging onto your social media account one day and seeing messages, videos and memes about your sexual orientation, race, gender identity, religion or disability. The posts are offensive and other people have made hateful comments on the post. Seeing this may make you feel alone, sad, angry or depressed that people are saying those things. You may feel scared that this is how everyone feels and feel unsafe or ashamed to belong to the targeted identity group.

Now imagine how you would feel if someone commented that they didn’t agree with the post and found it offensive, challenged what was being said or disproved the lies. You are no longer alone and can see that this is not how everyone feels. You may feel supported by others and proud of who you are.

Counter narrative or counter messaging provides people with a chance to challenge offensive, fake or negative information they see online and support people who may be affected by what they have seen. ‘Narrative’ is just another term for a ‘story’, so a ‘counter narrative’ is an alternative story, aimed at countering and providing a different viewpoint to a negative, ‘hateful’ story or message. You are likely to find opportunities to use counter-narrative on most social media platforms in the comments section. When considering the use of counter-narrative you should think carefully about how to engage safely.