My name is Kate, and I’m a student. Volunteering was required for my scholarship—but I’ll be honest, I was nervous going in. I’d had a negative experience volunteering in the past, and I didn’t want to repeat it. I was looking for something meaningful, something that would actually make a difference and still feel like a good fit for who I am.
When I saw FOA on the list of options, I knew right away this was it.
When I’m in “monitoring mode,” I like to give myself clear goals. I might decide to find and report ten antisemitic posts on X and ten on VK. I keep track of all the relevant details and submit the reports carefully. It’s focused work, but it feels purposeful.
What FOA gives me is a sense of small wins. I know I can’t eliminate antisemitism or change everyone’s mind—but I can do my part. I truly believe that real change starts with small, consistent steps. By helping make the internet a little safer and more inclusive, I feel like I’m contributing to something bigger than myself.
Before joining FOA, I knew antisemitism existed, but I didn’t encounter much of it on my own social media. Now that I’m actively looking, I’m often shocked by what I find. Some of the conspiracy theories are so extreme and surreal that it’s hard to believe someone actually believes them.
The hardest part is realizing how many people do believe these ideas. That can be really upsetting. When it starts to weigh on me, I ground myself by spending time with people I love—people who share my values. They remind me why this work matters and give me the strength to keep going.
Looking ahead, I hope social media companies will take stronger action and improve their policies around hate speech. And to anyone who’s thinking about volunteering but feels unsure: I really encourage you to give it a try. We may not change the world overnight—but if enough of us are willing to make a small effort, real change is possible.