Counseling Center Elly: Online Hate Is a Real Danger
Thuringia's counseling center Elly warns about real consequences of hate speech online. Internet harassment can seriously endanger LGBTQ+ people's lives.
Counseling center Elly from Thuringia is raising the alarm. Online hate speech and harassment are not trivial matters. They have real consequences for people's actual lives.
LGBTQ+ people are often targeted. They face insults and threats on social media and online forums. Many affected people feel unsafe afterward. Some no longer leave their homes.
Elly counseling center helps people in Thuringia. They support those experiencing online hate. The experts there take this problem very seriously. They say: online hate is not harmless. It can lead to real violence.
Experts explain how dangerous this is. When someone faces online threats, they feel unsafe offline too. This puts enormous psychological strain on them. Many develop anxiety disorders or depression.
The counseling center demands more protection. Internet platforms must delete hate messages faster. Politicians must act too. Stricter laws against online hate are needed.
Germany already has laws against online harassment. But enforcement is often difficult. Perpetrators frequently remain anonymous. This makes holding them accountable very hard.
Elly advises affected people: Take screenshots of hate messages. Report them to the platform. Go to police if you feel threatened. You are not alone. Help is available.
The counseling center offers free support. Affected people can contact them and receive help. This matters because many are afraid to speak about experiences.
Elly's warning is clear: Online hate is a real threat. Society and politics must work together against it. LGBTQ+ people deserve safe lives. Online and offline.