Everyday Racism App

Everyday Racism is the first mobile app of its kind designed to challenge understandings of racism. The content is based on real-life experiences of everyday racism.

What is the Everyday Racism App?faces of three people from diverse backgrounds with text advertising the 7 day everyday racism challenge

A world-first mobile phone app, Everyday Racism is a game/education app, which challenges players to live a week in the life of an Aboriginal man, a Muslim woman, an Indian student or just yourself.

Available for the first time in Australia, Everyday Racism offers a journey to better understand racism by walking in the shoes of someone else for seven days.

It is an immersive experience where over the course of one week, participants receive texts, tweets, images and videos that will challenge assumptions. It helps to convey the importance of speaking up when witnessing racism.

Reference Group

There were ten people who were part of the Reference Group on this project, and each of them made significant contributions through their real-life experience and advice for the development of the app.

  • To create the character of Aisha, the Muslim woman in the game, Zubeda Raihman, Mariam Veiszadeh and Aisha Jabeen were our references.
  • Behind the character of Pat, the Aboriginal man, Blake Tatafu, Adam Hansen, Nat Heath and Peter Dawson spent time to share their experience.
  • The character of Vihann is based on the stories shared by Rahul Dhawan, Mridula Amin, Tanvi Bedi.

The impact of the Everyday Racism appthree people of diverse backgrounds in front of the Everyday Racism text

In the 12 months since the app launched in January 2014, more than 25,000 people downloaded it. Early results from a survey of Everyday Racism players (analysed by Western Sydney University) revealed that players:

  • have increased awareness of racist talk and actions – 76.5%
  • have perceived the app's effectiveness at encouraging bystander action – 90.7%
  • have spoken up against racism since playing – 60.0%
  • have perceived the importance of action – 97.9%

Awards

The app was awarded second place in the world for a 2014 Intercultural Innovation Award, sponsored by BMW Group and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). This included a cash prize plus mentoring to increase the reach and impact of the app.

The app was also one of three winners of the PEACEapp prize 2015, awarded by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). This included a cash prize and attendance at the PEACEapp conference.

Project Partners and Funding

This app was developed in partnership with All Together Now, Deakin University and Melbourne University.