Hate speech: Users perceive more hatred on the Internet

People are reading significantly more hate speech on the internet than in previous years. This shows a study. However, the number of baiters remains unchanged.

Hate speech: Users perceive more hatred on the Internet

The perception of hate speech and hate commentary on internet has increased compared to previous years. According to a FORSA study on behalf of Regional Institute for Media NRW, majority of more than 1,000 respondents (78 percent) have already seen hate speech or hate comments on Internet, for example on websites, in blogs, in social networks or in Internet forums. By comparison, 2017 were 67 percent, year before 65 percent. The study has been collected since 2016.

The most frequently affected are young people aged between 14 and 24 (96 percent), followed by 25-to 44-year-olds (85 percent). With increasing age, Internet users perceive much less hate speech or hate comments. Anor difference is by gender: women experience slightly more hate speech (78 percent) than men (76 percent). There is hardly any difference in place of residence. People from new and old federal states alike often see hate comments on internet.

The number of those who declare mselves to write hate comments has remained unchanged over years – at about one percent. "The results show that we have a lot of baiting, but few baiters on net," says Tobias Schmid, director of Regional Institute for Media NRW. "But this also shows us that re is a chance to get a grip on increasing hatred on Internet."

BKA is stepping up against hate comments

The assessment coincides with or scientific studies. An investigation by London Institute for Strategic Dialogue on basis of hundreds of discussions on Facebook-contributions from Bild, focus online, kroner-Zeitung, Spiegel Online, tagesschau.de, world and ZDF-today-news shows: half of likes at Hate comments on Facebook go back to only five percent of accounts. In this minority in turn, a part is particularly active. According to analysis, 25 percent of likes can be traced back to only one percent of profiles.

In Germany, Federal Criminal Police Office is now stepping up against hate comments on internet. In mid-June, police examined third day of action to combat Hasspostings housing of 29 suspects throughout federal territory. They are accused of punishable hatred, such as anti-Semitic insults, xenophobic incitements, or public calls for criminal offences; In case of popular incitement on internet, a prison sentence of up to five years is imminent. At beginning of year, a network Enforcement Act came into force. Providers of social networks, including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, have since been obliged to remove or block "obviously illegal content" within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.

Date Of Update: 06 July 2018, 12:02