Project Grey

Project Grey aimed to oppose online and offline polarization by amplifying the opinions of the “grey middle”. Campaigners, data analysts, and social workers join forces to combat polarization and the processes of radicalization that stem from it.

Although the group of people with extreme opinions is often relatively small, it makes the most noise on social media. This strongly reduces the space for a wide palette of more nuanced opinions, also described as the “grey middle”. Project Grey emphasizes these opinions of the silent majority that risk getting lost in the ruckus. The campaign was launched from an innovative online tool and dashboard that helped us to gain insight regarding the subjects people have heated discussions on, and where the first signs of polarization can be discerned.

Social workers and youth workers were also involved in Project Grey. They were trained to recognize (online) polarization and to handle it proactively and reactively, both within their neighborhoods and online, for example, by organizing dialogue meetings. Become a part of Project Grey.

Project Grey uses technology that is based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. The algorithms used within this project search autonomously for patterns in the data. More information can be found here. They help us to gain insight regarding which subjects people discuss on social media and where signs of polarization can be discerned.

Outputs 

Analytical Online tool for social workers and youth workers

Project website

Video channel

Social network

Related events

• Online Conference DEPOLARISATION: ROAD TO DEEPER TRUST, September 29 - October 2, 2020

  Video recording from panel discussion RADICAL TRUST with Iva Mrvová (Slovakia) and Özlem Cekic (Denmark) 

  
  

  Panel discussion MEDIA, TRUST AND POLARIZATION with Jędrzej Malko (Poland) / Jessikka Aro (Finland)  

  
  

  
  

  Panel discussion BEAUTIFULTROUBLE! STORIES OF CREATIVE ACTION AND CIVIL RESISTANCE AROUND THE GLOBE with Carolina Munis (Brazil) / Nadine Bloch (USA) / Phil Wilmot (Uganda) / Søren Warburg (Denmark) 

  
  

  For more outcomes and interviews with conference guests visit Project Grey web site. 

• Videos aimed at raising awareness of the Power of the Middle, meaning people who are not radically determined, who often do not find their voice and their representation in public discourse, who sometimes feel that they do not belong to either side of cultural wars, or vice versa.

• 45 social and youth workers trained in Slovakia (3 trainings), 6 trainings in the Netherlands, and 1 training in Belgium