Swiss Study on Hate Speech Frightens
The fact that the Internet is not a "lawless space" has been emphasized many times in the past. However, precisely this does not seem to stop many people from discriminating against and insulting others on the basis of their appearance or sexual orientation.
A JAMESfocus report by ZHAW and Swisscom recently also dealt with the topic of hate speech. The results are shocking and show how present hate has become on the Internet. Around half of the respondents said they were confronted with hate speech more often per week. The problem is particularly widespread among young people between the ages of 16 and 19. Girls and women are affected more often.
Sexual orientation also an issue in hate speech
Anyone who launches an investigation into the topic of hate speech naturally also asks the question of why people are "hating" in the first place. The LGBTQI+ community (and all those who feel connected to it) should be shocked to learn that in half of the comments, the sexual orientation of the victims is alluded to. In a third of the cases, people are bullied because of their gender identity.
However, it is difficult to compile clear figures on the exact extent of the cases, partly because there are no fixed rules as to when one should speak of "hate speech. Some of those affected seem to have thicker skin here. What others declare to be a "hate comment" may for them merely be an unreflective "snub" from the side. The boundaries are accordingly fluid. In addition, many people also have problems describing themselves as victims of hate speech because they may feel ashamed and think that something could be wrong with them.
However, the study reveals a clear trend: The situation is alarming and underscores how much intolerance still prevails in large sections of society.
How do people react when confronted with hate on the Internet?
First of all, the published results of the survey are based on the statements of those affected. The fact that more girls state that they are shocked by hate comments than boys may of course also be related to the fact that the boys surveyed might find it difficult to show "weakness" here.
By comparison, while 75 percent of female respondents said that hate speech made them sad, only about two-fifths of male survey participants confirmed this.
Either way, many people in charge have long been of the opinion that more should be done to combat hate speech on social networks. Those affected can protect themselves a little - at least in the first step - by blocking their haters from further comments. However, it would certainly also be desirable if the operators of the platforms themselves were to ensure even more order here, for example by officially blocking users who hate.
The dangers of hate speech, especially for young people, are difficult to foresee in the long term. Especially during puberty and when it comes to standing up for oneself and coming out if necessary, such hate comments can have a severely traumatizing effect.
Those affected should therefore not hesitate to seek help - in Germany, of course, and in all other parts of the world.
When Hate Speech Becomes Hate Crime....
The boundaries between hate speech and hate crime are often blurred. Those who mob on the Internet often transfer this behavior into "normal everyday life" as well. Unfortunately, the same is true with regard to acts of violence.
For a long time, the community has been calling for hate crimes with a clear queer background to be declared as such and to be better clarified. Especially during this year's CSDs it became obvious once again that many people feel affected by this kind of homophobic threat and how important it is for them to do educational work here.
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