sr448016@ohio.edu
There is no denying that hate speech and hate crimes have always been around. There is also no denying that social media has increased these words and actions. Whether it be through exposure online or feelings about the world changing, people have become bolder and bolder with their choices and actions, using free speech to defend themselves. Social media allows people to share their thoughts and ideals with anyone they want, anonymity further emboldens those who turn to social media to spread hate. As CNN shared in an article about big tech's role in hate speech that, "Social media has given people a platform to spew hate speech and radical beliefs to other disaffected people, amplifying what are otherwise fringe opinions. A few have turned that hate into violence." What is even scarier is that spreading this hate can shape the opinions of many young and impressionable people. When one is exposed to so much hate, especially toward one specific group/organization, it is not a far stretch to see how their own opinions and beliefs will begin to take shape to those around them.
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) compared hate speech on social media at a global level, finding that "As more and more people have moved online, experts say, individuals inclined toward racism, misogyny or homophobia have found niches that can reinforce their views and goad them to violence." The article went on to further share examples of social media postings that led to an increase in violence attacks from New Zealand to India to the United States. Before social media, extremists were lacking in ways to share and spread their extremist opinions and ideas. The audiences were limited and it was difficult to find others with matching views. Now, social media has spun a web, connecting extremists from around the world, giving them the ability to not only spread their ideas but also shape the opinions of others, in turn leading to a dangerous situation all around the world. While many social media companies have begun monitoring their sites for hate speech, little can show for these efforts. In a New York Times article, it was said that Facebook only flagged 38% of hate speech this year in contrast to the 96% of nudity and 99.5% of terrorist content. Clearly this shows a stark contrast in what Facebook deems dangerous, however we have seen what hate speech can lead to.
While hate speech happens on college campuses, public transportation and even walking down the street, nothing gives hate speech a platform the way social media does. If someone yelled a comment on the street that was Islamophobic, it is not likely a large group would join in and continue this behavior and then continue building on the ideas of others. But, on social media, this can and does happen. People meet others with the same ideas of hatred and this is where the danger lies. One can be encouraged to act upon their feelings that they might not have if they were not encouraged and egged on. Social media companies need to take hate speech as seriously as they do nudity because once an idea of hate is out there, there is no going back.
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| Map depicts states with and without laws against hate crimes and the collection of data. Retrieves from PBS News Hour. |
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