YouTube partners Ministry of Funny to host workshops aimed at countering online extremism

A series of workshops aimed at countering violent extremism on online platforms was launched by YouTube on Saturday (Apr 30).

The workshops, titled Tribe Talkin’: How to Start Conversations on Difficult Topics, are part of an ongoing collaboration between YouTube and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). They are co-developed by local content creator Ministry of Funny.

This initiative is intended to help interfaith and religious groups create quality online content and meaningful discourse around emerging issues of online extremism and hate.

“The creation of digital tribes online can divide rather than unite us. That’s why it’s critical that we partner with our community leaders to build bridges between tribes with tools that tech has to offer,” said Mr Alvin Tan, the Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth.

The first part of the collaboration will consist of a series of three six-hour workshops. Participants will learn to strategise, plan, and execute impactful content using comprehensive training materials jointly developed by YouTube and Ministry of Funny.

By the end of the workshops, YouTube hopes that interfaith and religious groups will be better equipped with the knowledge and confidence to address sensitive issues online.

Having created comedy content addressing a variety of sensitive topics for over a decade now, Ministry of Funny hopes to further empower local voices and raise awareness through the workshops.

Co-founder of Ministry of Funny Terrence Chia said: “While we’ve managed to reach a large audience via our YouTube channel as well as our Yah Lah BUT podcast, it is also important that we enable more local voices to join the conversation and raise awareness on such critical topics.”

During the third and final session of the workshops, participants will use their learnings to develop a video concept pitch. The winning group will clinch a $10,000 grant for the organisations which they represent. 

Additionally, the organisations will also receive a short-term mentorship led by other local YouTube content creators which include Our Grandfather Story, The Daily Ketchup Podcast, itsclarityco and Overthink.

Google Singapore’s Country Managing Director Ben King believes that it is crucial to empower interfaith and religious community builders to step up and strengthen our social fabric with helpful content. 

“This collaboration with the Ministry of Funny and local YouTube creators with the support of MCCY continues our longstanding efforts to amplify positive voices against threat vectors in this region,” he added.