Online Hate Speech: A Sociological Approach
Online Hate Speech: A Sociological Approach
Monday, 7 July 2025: 00:00
Location: FSE036 (Faculty of Education Sciences (FSE))
Oral Presentation
Hate speech spread online has become a threat to social cohesion and human rights. This form of communication, which promotes contempt and hostility toward individuals or groups based on traits such as race, ethnicity, religion, or nationality, have found a conducive environment in digital platforms for their rapid dissemination. Social media such as Twitter and YouTube have facilitated the amplification of messages that incite hate and violence, directly affecting the most vulnerable and stigmatized communities. The need to investigate this phenomenon is more urgent than ever, given the rapid and uncontrolled viral spread of such discourse on social media. Hate speech dehumanizes the targeted group, polarizes society and hampers social integration. Furthermore, it poses serious challenges in terms of digital governance, as platforms and policymakers must balance protecting freedom of expression with the need to prevent the incitement of hate and violence.
We analyzed and monitored online hate speech over the past seven years. This line of research has involved the use of various methods, such as both manual and automated content analysis, computational techniques, and experimental studies, with the aim of generating robust empirical knowledge on the phenomenon. We diagnosed its current state and evaluated its evolution and severity in Spain and southern Europe. These studies have revealed not only the magnitude of its spread but also its direct effects on the attitudes and behaviors of Spanish citizens toward migrants and refugees. Broadly speaking, the results indicate that this type of discourse has increased in recent years, often relying on hoaxes and fake news, showing a significant relationship with the media representation of migration predominantly disseminated in news outlets, and that exposure to such messages significantly amplifies negative attitudes toward these groups, thereby contributing to the polarization and dehumanization of already vulnerable social groups.
We analyzed and monitored online hate speech over the past seven years. This line of research has involved the use of various methods, such as both manual and automated content analysis, computational techniques, and experimental studies, with the aim of generating robust empirical knowledge on the phenomenon. We diagnosed its current state and evaluated its evolution and severity in Spain and southern Europe. These studies have revealed not only the magnitude of its spread but also its direct effects on the attitudes and behaviors of Spanish citizens toward migrants and refugees. Broadly speaking, the results indicate that this type of discourse has increased in recent years, often relying on hoaxes and fake news, showing a significant relationship with the media representation of migration predominantly disseminated in news outlets, and that exposure to such messages significantly amplifies negative attitudes toward these groups, thereby contributing to the polarization and dehumanization of already vulnerable social groups.