Disrupting hate before it takes root.
Kaitlyn Tierney and Courtney Cano met in 2021 in a course on countering violent extremism while pursuing their Masters of Arts in International Policy Development at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
Kaitlyn Tierney is a marketing strategist with more than 10 years of experience using data and storytelling to shift behaviors and build movements. She has led research and campaigns
across industries, specializing in how technology shapes human decision-making. Her recent
work centers on ethical tech, online misogyny, and community resilience. Courtney Cano is a policy strategist whose work focuses on online ecosystems, protecting democracy, and addressing the root causes of digital harm. Her career spans international development and
advocacy, from advancing economic programs in Zambia to shaping strategies that strengthen community resilience and support the well-being of men and boys.
As loneliness rises and more people—especially young men—spend increasing time online, the risk of radicalization, social disconnection, and harm intensifies. Social media platforms that rely on explosive narratives for engagement amplify anger, normalize violence, and exploit isolation for profit. For many young men, seemingly helpful online content offers belonging and self-improvement, only to escalate into grievance and hostility. Misogynistic content, in particular, has been identified as a powerful driver of other forms of hate-fueled and political violence. In a recent edition of the journal of the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, editors issued a special statement on the negative impact of online misogynistic content on attitudes and behaviors of young men and the downstream consequences for women and girls, highlighting the urgent need for interventions.
Diverting Hate (DH) was founded to reach young men at a critical fork in their online experience. Through empathy-driven interventions and innovative use of digital marketing tools, DH redirects men away from harmful content and toward communities, resources, and messages that strengthen connection and resilience. Their approach combines technology, credible voices, and public health principles to replace exploitative narratives with ones that foster growth and belonging. The organization began as a student project at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, where Kaitlyn and Courtney’s innovative model won the Department of Homeland Security’s Invent2Prevent award.
DH’s methodology is to leverage technology platforms to counteract misinformation, prevent online radicalization, and create safer digital environments. Using principles of digital marketing, DH uses ads and other tools to redirect users away from extreme content toward prosocial alternatives. They are seeking to combat loneliness and disconnection by promoting pathways to belonging and community through their network of online and offline partners. DH also uses research and insights to shape policy and public dialogue, advocating for narrative and structural changes that reduce online harms and promote prosocial alternatives for men and boys. Their research reports on the trends and patterns of online misogynistic extremism are already being used by experts in the field.
UP is supporting Kaitlyn and Courtney at a pivotal moment, enabling DH to hire key staff, strengthen partnerships, and expand its interventions at a time when interest and need are surging. With this investment, Diverting Hate is poised to build the digital infrastructure to disrupt hate before it takes hold – fostering connection, building resilience, and strengthening communities where it’s needed most.
Learn more about Diverting Hate here.
Kaitlyn Tierney and Courtney Cano met in 2021 in a course on countering violent extremism while pursuing their Masters of Arts in International Policy Development at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
Kaitlyn Tierney is a marketing strategist with more than 10 years of experience using data and storytelling to shift behaviors and build movements. She has led research and campaigns
across industries, specializing in how technology shapes human decision-making. Her recent
work centers on ethical tech, online misogyny, and community resilience. Courtney Cano is a policy strategist whose work focuses on online ecosystems, protecting democracy, and addressing the root causes of digital harm. Her career spans international development and
advocacy, from advancing economic programs in Zambia to shaping strategies that strengthen community resilience and support the well-being of men and boys.
As loneliness rises and more people—especially young men—spend increasing time online, the risk of radicalization, social disconnection, and harm intensifies. Social media platforms that rely on explosive narratives for engagement amplify anger, normalize violence, and exploit isolation for profit. For many young men, seemingly helpful online content offers belonging and self-improvement, only to escalate into grievance and hostility. Misogynistic content, in particular, has been identified as a powerful driver of other forms of hate-fueled and political violence. In a recent edition of the journal of the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, editors issued a special statement on the negative impact of online misogynistic content on attitudes and behaviors of young men and the downstream consequences for women and girls, highlighting the urgent need for interventions.
Diverting Hate (DH) was founded to reach young men at a critical fork in their online experience. Through empathy-driven interventions and innovative use of digital marketing tools, DH redirects men away from harmful content and toward communities, resources, and messages that strengthen connection and resilience. Their approach combines technology, credible voices, and public health principles to replace exploitative narratives with ones that foster growth and belonging. The organization began as a student project at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, where Kaitlyn and Courtney’s innovative model won the Department of Homeland Security’s Invent2Prevent award.
DH’s methodology is to leverage technology platforms to counteract misinformation, prevent online radicalization, and create safer digital environments. Using principles of digital marketing, DH uses ads and other tools to redirect users away from extreme content toward prosocial alternatives. They are seeking to combat loneliness and disconnection by promoting pathways to belonging and community through their network of online and offline partners. DH also uses research and insights to shape policy and public dialogue, advocating for narrative and structural changes that reduce online harms and promote prosocial alternatives for men and boys. Their research reports on the trends and patterns of online misogynistic extremism are already being used by experts in the field.
UP is supporting Kaitlyn and Courtney at a pivotal moment, enabling DH to hire key staff, strengthen partnerships, and expand its interventions at a time when interest and need are surging. With this investment, Diverting Hate is poised to build the digital infrastructure to disrupt hate before it takes hold – fostering connection, building resilience, and strengthening communities where it’s needed most.
Learn more about Diverting Hate here.