UTAA asked Aviv Kurnas, a proud member of Israel-is NGO, to speak on ways of combating antisemitism. Aviv has travelled around the U.S. to speak to college students.
Interview with Mosheh Oinounou
Oinouou is the Founder and Editor in Chief of MO NEWS, a social media news source for verified and balanced news. In 2002, MO NEWS received the Chairmans Criterion Award from The National Press Foundation. Oinounou can be found on Instagram @mosheh.
Our interview with Oinounou is abbreviated below.
Q: What role have you seen social media play in antisemitism and how can it be prevented?
A:
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​Social media can create fear and spread hate and misinformation.
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Social media algorithms benefit controversial or extreme content.
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Antisemitism is not consistent. There are plenty of different stories and stereotypes that all contradict each other.​
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Knowing the difference between "misinformation" and "disinformation"
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Misinformation = bad information, ignorance
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Disinformation = purposeful information, put out there with bad intent
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Antisemitism on social media doesn't look as different as it did throughout history.
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The power of social media is the ability to have a conversation with the audience​.
Q: How can technology and social media be leveraged to counteract antisemitism and promote tolerance?
A:
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Platforms aren’t legally liable for what the participants do: it's on us to share good information and it is our responsibility to make sure we are not spreading false information.
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If you see something and have emotional reaction, find out if it is real and fact check! However, there is so much fake news, so really make sure you are reacting to something reliable.
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If more of us could have convos about what we posted it would go a long way.
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Don't always assume intentions- ask if you are unsure.
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Take convos offline and discuss in person conversation to promote tolerance.
Q: What advice do you have for students who are now appling to colleges with the rise of antisemitism on campus?
A:
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Do your research on the Hillels and Chabads. Talk to leaders there and see how they feel about the community.
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Different schools have different environments: identify them! Visit and see the vibes and how administration responds to protests and Antisemitism.
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Talk to actual students and get a realistic understanding of what their lives are like there.
Q: Can you talk about some community lead efforts that would inspire our world?
A:
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One to one efforts on a local level can have serious impact.
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Communities are working together and educating each other on the challenges they face.
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There are 15.7 million Jewish People in the world: which is only 0.2%.​
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7 million of those people live in Israel.
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Q: What is your advice on dealing with antisemitism online?
A:
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Alert executives on insta about accounts that are unacceptable and are promoting hate.
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People will always try to justify antisemitism/antisemitic comments. Ignore them.
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If you put yourself in the public square you WILL have to experience hate. Be ready to defend yourself but also ignore if there is no point in arguing.
Q: What steps can people, especially teenagers, take in their daily lives to contribute to the fight against antisemitism and promote inclusivity?
A:
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Research is the best way to educate ourselves to stop hate.
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Injustice and bad information needs to be called out.
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Listen to the Debra Libstadt podcast: which talks about fighting antisemitism in court.
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Share good and reliable information, and make sure it is fact checked before you share it to the world.
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You need to be able to identify who is willing to have a safe conversation/someone who you can reach a middle ground with, and who you can’t talk to about antisemitism
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Small things have big impact! ​