Everyday Racism App

Everyday Racism is the first mobile app of its kind designed to challenge understandings of racism. All Together Now, Western Sydney University, Deakin University and Melbourne University developed the Everyday Racism app based on their extensive research in the field of racism and anti-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's 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 are ten people who are part of the Reference group on this project and each of them have brought key contributions in terms of 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, more than 25,000 people downloaded it. Early results from a survey of Everyday Racism players (analysed by the University of Western Sydney) reveal that players:

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

Everyday Racism Version 2.0

The Challenging Racism Project and All Together Now recently engaged with our software partner Thoughtworks to conceptualise an updated version of the app. Through a week long creative process, new ideas were tested against user experiences. This intensive creative period generated four new concepts we hope to begin developing shortly, pending the results of grant applications that we have submitted. Watch this space!