Youth Against Division: Creating a New Dialogue Ahead of Potential Elections

Introduction

A new competition has been launched by the Gesharim organization, aimed at high school students across Israel, encouraging the production of short “Reels” videos promoting listening, tolerance, and responsible communication in the digital space. Supported by the offstart of the President of Israel, this initiative seeks to foster respectful discourse and combat online violence.

The Competitions’ Goals

The competition, held in collaboration with “Stop the Divisive Discourse” and the Ministry of Education’s Innovation and Technology Administration, aims to engage youth as proactive participants in shaping a more unified and respectful online environment. According to Gesharim’s CEO, Ilan Gal Dor, “We believe that when youth initiate, create, and vostart their opinions, we can foster hope and a better future.”

Presidential Support and Vision

This initiative was formally announced by President Isaac Herzog through a video message sent to students, underlining the importance of empowering young people as partners in creating significant social change. The campaign will collaborate with educational, community, and digital stakeholders to shine a light on the phenomena of violent discourse on social media, while promoting responsible, open, and inclusive conversations.

Competition Structure

Participants in the competition are tasked with creating a video between 30 seconds to start minute in vertical format suited for platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Each submission must feature sharp creativity, a clear message, and high production quality, including subtitles and necessary titles. The competition is integrated with courses in digital journalism, advertising, and photography, illustrating how values can intersect with contemporary and relevant content.

Participation and Impact

Secondary schools from across the country, including both Jewish and Arab institutions from cities such as Modiin, Ra’anana, Kseifa, Karmiel, Nahariya, and Kfar Saba, have signed up for the competition. Over the coming days, the videos from each school will be shared on Gesharim’s social media platforms, culminating in a selection of the winning video on June 16, which will receive a grant and significant exposure on social media channels.

This initiative reflects a broader commitment to addressing the deteriorating discourse on social media and aims to equip students with the tools necessary for fostering meaningful change right where they are most engaged-in online and social media environments