Hate speech, fake news and trolls on the internet
Author Manfred Theisen reads for young people as part of the "Reading against violence" project - from 12 to 14 October
From Monday to Wednesday, 12 to 14 October, Cologne-based young adult author Manfred Theisen will be reading from his latest book "Uncover - Die Trollfabrik", a political thriller, five times for school classes in Chemnitz. Violence against and among young people is always a topical issue that is addressed in a variety of ways by young people's literature. What impact do hate comments and misinformation have on real life?
On his YouTube channel "Uncover", 17-year-old Phoenix uncovers fake news. He becomes involved in the "Alexander" case. The 6-year-old disappears without a trace after a birthday party. Shortly afterwards, a video goes viral accusing a Syrian refugee. Phoenix exposes the video as fake and is confronted with a huge shitstorm. When he follows the trail to a Russian troll factory, however, it is not only his online reputation that is at risk.
(Source: www.loewe-verlag.de)
The author Manfred Theisen was born in Cologne in 1962. He studied German, English and politics, spent two years researching for the German Ministry of the Interior in the Soviet Union, worked as an editor and managed a Cologne newspaper editorial office. Today he lives as a freelance author in Cologne.
The "Reading against Violence" project has been running at Chemnitz City Library since 2002, with readings by children's and young adult authors focussing on different aspects of this constantly topical issue. They show causes and correlations in a differentiated and comprehensible way and thus offer the opportunity to actively deal with the problem in class.
The project was initiated by the Verein Förderer der Stadtbibliothek Chemnitz e.V. and is supported by the Local Action Plan for Tolerance and Democracy against Violence, Right-Wing Extremism and Xenophobia of the City of Chemnitz (LAP).
The dates:
Monday, 12 October:
9 a.m. District library in the Yorck Centre
11.40 am: Einsiedel Grammar School
Tuesday, 13 October:
9 a.m. Central Library in Tietz
11 a.m. Central Library in Tietz
Wednesday, 14 October
9.15 a.m. District library in the Vita Centre