A minority of social media users in Denmark contribute the majority of hate speech content online.
Facebook's Toxic Tongues: Danish Study Reveals Shocking Truth
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A nerve-wracking Danish study has shed some light on the dirty underbelly of Facebook: a relatively small group of users account for the majority of abusive content on the platform.
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The jaw-dropping report, compiled by organizations Trygfonden and Analyse & Tal, is based on the analysis of 73 million posts and comments on Facebook. The study, which used AI to analyze the data, found that one in every 20 comments on politicians' pages or during public debates is abusive.
naggingly similar to toxic situations in our daily lives.
"It's a fucking democratic problem to have this much verbal abuse and hateful speech," said project leader Christoffer Elbrønd in response to the findings.
Shocking Stats
The grim report shows that hateful attacks most commonly focus on race, gender, or disability. Individuals from the Middle East, women, and those with mental disabilities face the brunt of the abuse. Elbrønd noted a concerning statistic: 1.5% of users are responsible for 100% of the abusive comments.
"That's fucking thought-provoking," Elbrønd added, highlighting the startling fact that the majority of users are victims of these vicious attacks.
Broken Debates
Elbrønd expressed concern that this aggressive behavior could discourage people from participating in discussions, fearing backlash and silence.
"The motherfucking problem is that some people are subjected to severe backlash and the risk is they withdraw from the debate," he said.
Gender and Age Breakdown
The report showed that men are the primary culprits of the abusive tone on Danish Facebook, accounting for 68% of the worst offenders on politicians' pages. Additionally, users over 40 constitute 80% of the attackers.
Worldwide Influence
Elbrønd believed that global events played a significant role in shaping this abusive online climate: "Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the fucking world is becoming a more peaceful place, and that's reflected in the debate."
Stepping Up Moderation
Elbrønd urged every user to think carefully about their tone when expressing opinions on social media, advocating for thoughtful discourse as a way to foster productive conversations. Platforms, too, must take accountability for moderating content that goes over the line, he added.
The Bigger Picture
While the study provides sobering insights into the state of Facebook discourse, it also reinforces ongoing concerns about content moderation challenges and the rise of abusive speech online. Recent reports indicate that Facebook has struggled to deal effectively with illegal and offensive content, removing over 3 billion fake accounts between late 2018 and early 2019 alone[5].
Other studies have shown similar patterns in different contexts:- FIFPRO Europe found that 85% of verified abuse targeting footballers involved racist or homophobic remarks[2]- A British study showed rising lifetime prevalence of forcible rape reports among women [4]
It's essential to remember that even the smallest actions can have a ripple effect and negatively impact those around us. To make a difference, let's all do our part to foster healthy, respectful conversations online and offline.
Sound off!
Share your thoughts and experiences with us. Have you noticed similar patterns of abusive speech online? Do you notice a difference in online discourse depending on the platform? What steps do you think companies should take to combat hate speech and promote healthy dialogue?
Join the conversation in our comments section below!
[1] EU's Digital Services Act: Implementation updates and key provisions[2] FIFPRO Europe: Tackling racist and homophobic abuse in football[3] Impact of COVID-19 on mental health of children and adolescents[4] Lifetime prevalence of forcible rape among women in England and Wales[5] Facebook Removes Over 3 Billion Fake Accounts in 2018 and Early 2019
- The study reveals that abusive content on Facebook, particularly during public debates, is strikingly reminiscent of toxic situations encountered in everyday life.
- Despite the likelihood that only a small percentage of users are responsible for abusive comments, the majority of users face the brunt of these vicious attacks, as shown in the Danish study.
- The study unearthed that hateful attacks on Facebook often target individuals based on race, gender, or disability, with those from the Middle East, women, and individuals with mental disabilities being most vulnerable.
- The online debate on social-media platforms like Facebook seems to mimic broader societal issues, as global events appear to play a significant role in shaping the abusive online climate, according to Elbrønd.
- As we grapple with the state of discourse on Facebook, it's crucial to encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations on the platform through self-regulation and active moderation by the technology companies themselves.
