A discussion on the importance of YouTube scene in the Balkans and its role in the fight against hate speech was held on 5 April at the EU House in Sarajevo.
The discussion was held in the lead-up to this year’s Balkan Tube Fest which will be held on 28-29 April in Banja Luka with “Say NO to hate” as its motto.
Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative in BiH Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark hosted the debate and noted that YouTube is part of the culture today, in the same way as theatre plays, movies, music or architecture.
Ambassador Wigemark added that the EU supports Balkan Tube Fest for two years because the voice of youth is important and the events like this promote tolerance amongst people.
Balkan Tube Fest director Mirjana Vladisavljević said that Balkans YouTube scene is the third biggest in the world, following the United States and Great Britain.
YouTuber from BiH Emerald Podbićanin said that BalkanTubeFest for him means being closer with other YouTubers and that they are an example for the children and youth who follow them, while YouTubers Milica Perić Kovalska and Aleksandar ‘Cile’ Leštarić shared their experiences from neighbouring Serbia.
The participants also talked about the impact of the popular YouTubers on those who follow them and about the role of the new technologies in youth communication as well as the advantages and the challenges of the new technologies.
