AfD's Social Media Presence Raises Alarm for Better School Media Education
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has a significant presence on social media, with right-wing accounts boasting high follower numbers. This has raised concerns about the need for better media education in schools, as highlighted by the recent state elections in Brandenburg and other regions.
Gerhard Brand, the federal chairman of the Association of Education and Education (VBE), has called for improved media education in schools following the election results. Meanwhile, the Kant-Gymnasium Berlin-Spandau is praised for its comprehensive media education, integrating media competence into curricula and focusing on critical information evaluation and digital skills. In Berlin, schools are mandated to include media competence as part of cross-curricular education, emphasizing media literacy as a core element of democracy education and digital citizenship.
Media pedagogical organizations like Blickwechsel e.V. support schools and educators in developing critical media skills, including identifying right-wing extremism and false information. Meryem Tinc, from the Berlin office of the Violence Prevention Network, suggests closer collaboration between political education carriers and schools to promote media literacy.
The AfD party has found significant support among teenagers and the 18-25 age group in recent state elections. However, only 49% of students in digitally pioneering schools learn how to check the reliability of online information. The 'Anti Anti' project offers media-political training to counter this, stating that radicalization itself is not problematic, but becomes so when it shows democratic values alongside authoritarian and dehumanizing attitudes. The Education and Science Union (GEW) has also raised concerns about the digital divide in Berlin schools, denying students equal access to education.
With the AfD's strong social media presence and significant youth support, there is a clear need for enhanced media literacy education in schools. Organizations, educators, and policymakers are working together to improve critical thinking skills, digital literacy, and the recognition of misinformation, ensuring students are prepared to navigate the digital landscape and engage responsibly in democratic processes.
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