Decode Hate Video Challenge for Teens: Win up to $1000!

Pizza & Debrief: 6-7 pm
Seminar with Dr. Becker: 7-8:30 pm — Click here to register
Judging Panel & Awards Ceremony: Thursday, May 28, 6-7 pm

Calling all teens — Make the internet a better place, one video at a time! Join us in Brooks Place before our Decoding Bias and Hate on Social Media event to find out how you can win up to $1000 by creating a compelling video that challenges hate and bias on social media.

Join us afterward for Dr. Matthias Becker's seminar from 7 to 8:30 pm to learn more and put it into practice with your video entry. At least one teammate from your entry group must attend the seminar.

Read more below for the full timeline and challenge guidelines.

Decode Hate With Us

As social media transcends the boundaries of the digital world, how do we differentiate between free speech and hate speech online — and how do we combat its harmful effects?

The Westport Library is excited to present a special interactive Common Ground experience that will answer these questions and more, giving participants of all ages the tools they need to Decode Hate — by identifying harmful discourse and recognizing how it shapes our worldview online and offline.

Led by renowned research scholar Dr. Matthias J. Becker, the centerpiece of this three-part experience is a 90-minute seminar on April 21 at 7 pm, free to attend and open to all.

Prior to the seminar on April 21, high school students are invited to join us in Brooks Place at 6 pm to learn about the second component of this experience: an accompanying Decode Hate Video Challenge for Teens. We'll kick things off with pizza as we spark the conversation on bias and hate — from slurs to memes to microaggressions and more.

This challenge offers teens the chance to speak up and create a compelling 1-2 minute video that demonstrates how social media shapes hate. Together, we’ll expose how bias spreads and flip the script toward respect, empathy, and real conversation.

Use your voice for change and win cash prizes! First place wins $1000; second place: $750; third place: $500.

Following this informative session, challenge participants will join us for Dr. Becker's talk at 7 pm. Learn something new and get inspired to turn Dr. Becker's expertise into a narrative that shines a light on hate and makes your audience think.

Challenge participants and seminar attendees are then invited to return on Thursday, May 28 at 6 pm for a LIVE judging panel and awards ceremony with the top five finalists. Join us as we award the winners and celebrate the impact of our community as it comes together to uplift each other's voices.

Support for this Common Ground Initiative special presentation with Matthias Becker is provided by CT Humanities as part of its America 250 | CT program.

About the Challenge

Calling on all high school students to engage, create and compete — and to rethink how social media shapes hate. Together, we’ll expose how bias spreads and show how to flip the script toward respect, empathy, and real conversation.

First, we’ll kick things off at 6 pm (with pizza!) and a debrief with Dr. Matthias Becker, then join the full Decoding Hate & Bias on Social Media seminar at 7 pm. There, you will uncover both explicit and covert hate and bias online — from obvious slurs to hidden memes — and then turn what you learned into a short, powerful video that wakes people up, sparks change, and helps rewrite the narrative.

How to Enter

Turn what you learned in the Decoding Hate seminar into a 1–2 minute video that exposes how hate and bias spread on social media — and shows how we can push back. You’ll dig into real posts, memes, and trends and turn them into a powerful piece that grabs attention and actually makes your audience think.

The Top 5 finalists will be present in front of a panel of judges at the Library on May 28 at 6 pm.

• 1st place: $1000
• 2nd place: $750
• 3rd place: $500

Who Can Join

• High school students (teams of two or more people)
• At least one teammate must have attended the Decoding Hate seminar

Challenge Guidelines

• Videos must be 1–2 minutes.
• Include all 3 parts (see “Your Video Structure” below).
• Use only public or fair-use content (no copyrighted material).
• Keep it high-res.

Video Structure Guidelines

Hit all three parts:

1. Identify the problem

• Pick a theme (race, religion, LGBTQ+, sports, music, etc.).
• Show examples of explicit and “hidden” hate from social media.
• Explain the context and who it impacts.

2. Make it personal

• Use a story, skit, POV, or example from real life or your community.
• Show what happens if we ignore it — or how people fight back online.

3. Drop your insight

• Explain what’s really going on: bias, algorithms, bots, coded language, propaganda, and disinformation.
• Share what you want your audience to notice or do differently.
• What can you, your peers, or a platform do differently?

Topic Ideas (Pick one or pitch your own!)

• Sports fandom and rivalry
• Music, pop culture, and fan wars
• Race, religion, or identity
• LGBTQ+ representation
• Racism, antisemitism, misogyny and other forms of hate
• Free speech vs. hate speech
• Misinformation and scapegoating
• AI-generated content and deepfakes