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Understanding Online Hate Speech

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Kyla Marie
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35 views4 pages

Understanding Online Hate Speech

essay

Uploaded by

Kyla Marie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Be Kind

With the advancement of technology in our modern world, people can now access

almost everything and do whatever they want with the help of internet and social media,

which is much easier and less hassle. However, along with good, comes the bad. In the age of

digital media, online speech and content can now be shared anonymously and without regard

for the consequences. This is where “hate speech” arise. Hate speech refers to offensive

discourse targeting a group or an individual based on inherent characteristics, that may

threaten social peace (United Nations, 2022). Hateful speech has begun to manifest online as

a result of the widespread adoption of social media technologies in society, and as individuals

increasingly use these platforms for academic, personal, and social life discussions. Online

hate speech is not inherently different from in-person hate speech. The only differences are

hate messages can instantly go viral, and the fact that the said hate message can be available

longer, can re-appear or spread to other platforms.

In 2018 and 2019, there were reportedly 103,379 hate crimes recorded with an

increase of 10% compared last 2017. Among these, the majority of hate crimes were about

race or ethnicity with around three-quarters (Home Office, 2019). Hate speech comes with a

negative effect, as well as it stirs up violence and intolerance. The catastrophic effect of

hatred is somehow nothing new. Several studies have been published, the majority of which

focus on detecting and characterizing hate speech. (Shagun et al., 2018). Aside from

comprehending online hate speech, some studies have identified the effects of hate speech on

individuals' psychological and emotional health. (Pinar et al., 2019). Criticism, offensive

behavior, and abusive use of chat can fuel anxiety, depression, stress and other mental or

emotional problems. A study by Saha et al. (2019) states that hateful speech is associated
with emotional disturbance and discomfort, with stress being one of the most leading

responses from individuals who are exposed in hate speech. In response to the alarming

growth of racism, intolerance, violent misogyny, discrimination bullying, as well as

occurrences of mental and emotional issues because of hatred around the world, the United

Nation Secretary-General António Guterres launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of

Action on Hate Speech last June 18, 2019. The said action plan is mainly focused on

monitoring and analyzing hate speech, addressing the root, causes and the offender of hate

speech and giving out support to the victims of hate speech. In line with this, tools and

techniques to identify hate speech have been developed in different social media sites and

even in online games. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. have these automated detection

tools and a manual detection tool where you can report a user that violates their terms and

condition which includes hate speech, harassment and violence online. In some cases, such as

in online games like Valorant and League of Legends, game developers have programmed

the game where foul and cursing words in chat box are being restricted and are replace with

asterisk (*).

“He who makes others next to him small will never be great”, a quote from Johann

Gottfried Seume. Having the freedom and right to speak does not mean throwing hate,

insulting or degrading other people is okay. Before saying something, taking note of these

three important questions must be considered: Is it right? Is it necessary? Is it humane?

Carrying out a random act of kindness is no lame. Be kind, even if you disagree on stuffs. Be

kind because everyone has its own battle to win and you know nothing about it. In a world

where you can choose whatever you like, choose to BE KIND.


References

MediaSmarts. (2021, July 12). Impact of online hate. Retrieved November 30, 2022, from

[Link]

Research Outreach. (2022, November 22). Hate speech regulation on social media: An

intractable contemporary challenge. Research Outreach. Retrieved November 30,

2022, from [Link]

intractable-contemporary-challenge/

Saha, K., Chandrasekharan, E., & De Choudhury, M. (2019, June). Prevalence and

psychological effects of hateful speech in online college communities. Proceedings of

the ... ACM Web Science Conference. ACM Web Science Conference. Retrieved

December 1, 2022, from [Link]

fbclid=IwAR3wpjhnYkjA_Q8ZQAjMGMzm8Z3lLM5cFcgfVVxj6_tJ1ZU5sEFpqI9b

AFo

[Link]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2022, from

[Link]
United Nations. (n.d.). What is hate speech? United Nations. Retrieved December 4, 2022,
from [Link]
speech

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

PURPOSIVE

COMMUNICATION 030

Technology: hate speech in social media

by: Kyla Marie S. Suela BSCE II-E28

“BE WARY OF YOUR WORDS ONLINE”

Thesis statement: Having the freedom and right to speak does not mean throwing hate,

insulting or degrading other people is okay.

Submitted to: Mrs. Marjorie J. Oñate

Common questions

Powered by AI

Promoting kindness as an ethical guideline in digital communication encourages individuals to consider the impact of their words and choose respectful engagement over harmful speech. By adopting principles of kindness, such as assessing whether communication is right, necessary, and humane, individuals can help combat the negative effects of hate speech and foster a more positive online environment .

The anonymity provided by social media platforms facilitates the proliferation of hate speech because it allows users to share offensive content without immediate personal repercussions. This lack of accountability encourages the spread of hate speech, which can be shared instantaneously and persistently across different platforms, making it difficult to control .

Ethical considerations in the context of online hate speech include the balance between freedom of speech and the protection of individuals from harm. The anonymity of online environments raises concerns about accountability and the ethical responsibility of platforms to prevent harmful discourse. Furthermore, ethical questions arise regarding the responsibilities of individuals to engage respectfully and the duty of platforms to moderate content effectively .

Social media platforms and online games have developed both automated detection tools and manual review systems to mitigate hate speech. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have reporting features for users to flag instances of hate speech. In addition, games like Valorant and League of Legends replace foul language with asterisks in chat boxes to prevent the use of offensive language .

Identifying the root causes of hate speech, which may include systemic discrimination, cultural biases, and socio-political factors, informs strategic interventions by recognizing the underlying issues to be addressed. Strategies may involve education, promoting inclusive narratives, and implementing policies that target discrimination and bias at a systemic level, aiming to mitigate hate speech by addressing its origins .

Existing regulatory measures for hate speech include automated detection and user reporting systems, but these are often criticized for their inconsistent enforcement and ability to effectively differentiate between hate speech and permissible free speech. Improvements could include more sophisticated AI to better understand context, increased transparency from platforms regarding policy implementation, and stronger international cooperation to harmonize regulatory efforts .

Viral hate messages can have damaging implications for individuals, leading to psychological harm, stress, and social ostracization. For society, such messages promote intolerance, exacerbate social divisions, and can incite violence. The rapid spread and persistent availability of these messages complicate efforts to counteract their negative effects, challenging societal cohesion and peace .

The United Nations responded to the rise of online hate speech by launching the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech on June 18, 2019. This initiative is focused on monitoring and analyzing hate speech, addressing its root causes, holding offenders accountable, and providing support to victims. The strategy aims to curb the spread of hate speech and mitigate its harmful effects .

Studies have shown that hate speech on social media negatively impacts individuals' mental health by causing emotional disturbance, anxiety, depression, and stress. The exposure to hateful speech can lead to significant emotional discomfort and distress, highlighting the adverse psychological effects of online hate .

Saha et al. (2019) highlight that online hate speech is associated with emotional disturbances such as anxiety, depression, and stress. These psychological effects are measured through surveys and observational studies that assess individuals' emotional states following exposure to hate speech, noting changes in stress levels and self-reported experiences of emotional discomfort .

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