Reading Time 4 min. | 535 words
Tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Hannah! I’m originally from Virginia but made Aliyah in 2021 and now live in Givat Shmuel. I’m currently a student at Bar Ilan University, studying Political Science and Communication. At FOA (Fighting Online Antisemitism), I volunteer on the content team, where I help research and write stories for the weekly newsletter about online antisemitism, including emerging forms of digital hate and how they show up on social media.
What inspired you to volunteer with FOA?
I was inspired to volunteer with FOA after realizing just how urgent the fight against online hate has become. I’ve seen how quickly antisemitic disinformation can spread and how normalized coded language has become across platforms. I felt it was important to use my voice to stand up for what I believe in – and FOA gave me the opportunity to take action in a real, meaningful way.
How concerned are you about online antisemitism? Did you encounter online antisemitism before or after you started volunteering?
I’m extremely concerned. The digital space makes it easy for antisemitic content, including Holocaust denial, anti-Israel conspiracy theories, and even deepfake antisemitic videos, to spread rapidly—often without any real moderation. I saw this firsthand before I even joined FOA, across multiple social media platforms. The amount of harmful rhetoric that goes unchallenged is shocking.
Can you tell us a bit about your role at FOA?
I’m part of FOA’s newsletter content team. My role involves researching and writing about antisemitic trends online, especially how they evolve in response to current events. While I’m not directly involved in detection or monitoring, my writing helps spotlight issues like disinformation, deplatforming efforts, and the lack of consistent social media guidelines around digital antisemitism. I also participate in FOA’s online activist workshops, which are great for learning how to talk about these issues more effectively.
What do you enjoy about volunteering with FOA?
It’s really meaningful to feel like I’m contributing to Jewish community protection, even in a small way. Writing for FOA allows me to take part in conversations that matter – whether it’s about AI solutions to detect antisemitism, or how trusted flaggers and digital volunteers are making an impact. I enjoy being part of a team that’s passionate about this work and taking tangible steps to push back against online antisemitism.
Has anything you’ve learned about online antisemitism surprised you?
Yes – what shocked me most is how much antisemitic ideology is embedded in everyday online content. A lot of memes, jokes, or viral posts actually have roots in antisemitic tropes or conspiracy theories. Before joining FOA, I didn’t realize just how deep and subtle some of this content could be.
What are your hopes for the future in the fight against antisemitism?
I hope we’ll see tech companies take antisemitic content more seriously. That means clearer content moderation policies, stronger detection of coded language, and better support for NGOs like FOA that are working on the front lines. I’d love to see more collaboration between platforms and civil society to stop the spread of hate before it goes viral. And I hope more people speak up—not just when antisemitism is trending, but consistently.