KION Holds Democracy Workshop for Trainees and Work-Study Students

Clemens Groth is training as a mechatronics engineer at STILL's headquarters in Munich. He is currently in his third year of training.

Why did you sign up for the workshop?

I'm not very active on social media personally and I'm not on Instagram or Facebook. But I’ve still noticed that there is a lot of division in society as a whole at the moment. That's why it was so important for me to find out more about this area. I also wanted to learn some strategies for how to protect myself in social networks and deal with hate speech or disinformation.

What have you learned so far?

I've already had a few “aha” moments. A lot of things I already knew from talking to friends and acquaintances have been confirmed. I also now have a structure and strategy for action in my head for how I can handle certain situations and when it's worth speaking up in discussions on social media and drawing people's attention to their inappropriate conduct. Or whether it’s preferable to address a silent public. The practical exercises and discussion with other participants have been particularly helpful here.

Have you already had your own experiences with hate speech, disinformation, or conspiracy theories?

Not directly on social media, but in my friendship group we often talk about political subjects and how they are portrayed on social media. We discuss if and how disinformation has been spread and where the right information can be found. I also remember a situation in a computer game chat. Two players got into a highly offensive argument and were writing hate messages to each other. The situation stressed me out and I didn't know if I should intervene or not. I was far too unsure.

What do you think about KION offering this workshop to its trainees and work-study students?

I think it’s great that we trainees can participate in professional opportunities like this. That's why I registered as soon as our trainer introduced BC4D. Standing up in society is challenging for everyone, and I am no different. But the workshop shows that it's worth making that effort and committing to democracy.

Jasmin Elvers is in her sixth semester studying business information systems at KION Group IT.

Why did you sign up for the workshop?

It was really the range of subjects that got me interested. It deals with current issues like disinformation and hate speech that are everywhere in the media at the moment. I find conspiracy theories particularly interesting. What are people thinking when they believe in conspiracy theories and what are their reasons for this? I've always found it hard to understand. That’s why I want to learn how to understand these people and how I can get on better with those around me. During the pandemic in particular, I kept on thinking about something my parents used to say to me all the time: Don't believe everything you read. We should question things more and read multiple sources when we're looking for information.

What have you learned so far?

At the start of the workshop sessions, there’s always a theoretical part where we start by discussing the definitions of the individual topics. This is really important, as it allows us to learn the differences between hate speech, disinformation, and false information. The workshop has also shown me new tools like reverse image search, which I can use to identify false information and explain this to other people. I've realized how easy it is to edit images, tweets, and other posts in order to spread fake news. It's particularly quick and easy on social media because of anonymity.

Have you already had your own experiences with hate speech, disinformation, or conspiracy theories?

I haven’t had any personal experience of them on the social networks. My Instagram account is private so I only have contact with my friends and acquaintances. But I did notice at the start of the pandemic that there were a lot of different opinions out there and that false information could spread fast. Arguing against it doesn't really do much. I had to learn that and BC4D has made that clearer too.

What do you think about KION offering this workshop to its trainees and work-study students?

I think it's fantastic that KION is giving us the chance to participate in BC4D workshops. It’s not only helping me on a personal level, but also professionally. We're learning how to handle colleagues within a company who are spreading disinformation and hate speech. Whether that's on the intranet or in person. I hope there will be more opportunities like this.

Alexander Kopp is in his sixth semester studying mechanical engineering at Linde MH.

Why did you sign up for the workshop?

I use social media privately but also for professional purposes, for example LinkedIn or Instagram. The current conflict in Ukraine has particularly highlighted for me how little knowledge of democracy some people have on social media and on the Internet in general. That’s why it’s important for me to understand what causes hate speech or disinformation in the first place and the best way for me to handle this when confronted by it.

What have you learned so far?

The most important thing I've learned so far is: You can’t change everyone’s opinion. Whether that's in a professional context on the intranet or privately on social media. When it comes to hate speech or racist comments, it's incredibly difficult to change people's opinions. I've always wanted to change people's minds or convince them. I find it extremely hard to accept. Sometimes, though, you can also make use of the hive mind by liking positive comments and getting them bumped up to the top of chats to take a clear stand against hate speech.

Have you already had your own experiences with hate speech, disinformation, or conspiracy theories?

I haven't been on the receiving end of any hate speech personally. But I remember the last elections in America very well—how much of the election campaign was fought on social media and how much false information was spread. We also talk about this and politics in general in my friendship group.

What do you think about KION offering this workshop to its trainees and work-study students?

I think it’s fantastic that we trainees and work-study students can also get involved internally. I would love to have further opportunities like these or if they could be held more often. Events over the last few years have shown how fast false information can put democracy at risk. These subjects are important and fascinating for orientation purposes, particularly for those colleagues who have just graduated or left school and are first-time voters.