menu
Weekly Online Magazine
ISSN 2544-5839
zamknij
Media Review image

5.02.2024 Media industry

Hate speech is contagious and leads to harm [EXPERT OPINION]

Karolina Kropiwiec

‘If we are in an environment where certain groups of people are insulted, there is a high probability that we will start using such language ourselves; hate speech is contagious and its consequence is someone's harm,’ says Dr. Michał Bilewicz from the Centre for Research on Prejudice at the University of Warsaw.
Poczytaj artykuł wydanie polskie w wydaniu polskim

, PAP Science in Poland

Mowa nienawiści jest zaraźliwa [OPINIA EKSPERTA]ilustracja: bing.com/create

In its report Granice nienawiści (`The Borders of Hate`), the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights points out that although social media have led to the democratisation of access to public expression platforms, their uncontrolled development allows for the easy spread of extreme views, including hate speech against specific groups.

This is where the question often arises: where is the line between hate speech and the right to express one`s own views?

According to Dr. Michał Bilewicz from the Centre for Research on Prejudice at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, the difference between hate speech and freedom of speech is a dispute that cannot be easily resolved. He adds that one reliable indication is recognised, international definitions of hate speech as language that is harmful to specific social groups, mainly due to their minority status.

`When these groups are insulted because of their origin, religion or sexuality, it not only affects their dignity, but also their mental health. We often see increasing rates of depression among people who have become victims of hate speech,’ says Dr. Bilewicz.

He adds that according to linguists, language can cause a specific effect or action, and the consequence of hate speech is someone`s harm or suffering.

`The second consequence is that certain forms of speech may generate hatred or contempt towards a certain group. Then someone who is the recipient of such language may use direct, physical violence. An example here is the murder of the mayor of Gdańsk, Paweł Adamowicz, after a wave of hatred against his political party and towards the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity,’ Bilewicz says.


Moreover - as he points out - research shows that people who very often encounter hate speech, for example against immigrants, begin to support various types of policies that limit the rights of this group of people, or even begin to support the use of violence against them.

`Our research shows that people are usually infected with hate speech. If you are surrounded by an environment in which hate speech is the norm, in which certain groups are commonly offended and insulted, there is a high probability that you will start using such language yourself. This causes people to function in certain bubbles`, Bilewicz says.

He adds that recent statements by some right-wing publicists about migrants also show a certain homogeneity of views in a given environment, views that may escalate.

That is why - he says - it is so important to talk to people who use hate speech and make them aware that this language is harmful.

`I do not agree with the common postulate not to feed the troll and not to interact with those who use hate speech. We once conducted a study using artificial intelligence, where computer scientists from Samurai Labs created a bot that was supposed to interact with accounts generating a lot of hate speech on social media. This bot very politely pointed out that such language was harmful, tried to trigger empathy, said: think that on the other side there are people who suffer by reading such comments about themselves.’

Dr. Bilewicz points out that the bot`s intervention changed the behaviour of hateful users. `Perhaps for the first time, they encountered someone who expressed disapproval of the language they used. A month later, we examined these accounts and their hate activity was decreasing,’ he says.

Sometimes hate speech comes easily because it results from a misunderstanding of a given social group. Bilewicz points out that in recent years this could be noticed, for example, in the case of LGBT people, who were called `ideology`.

`It is best to ask these people what is offensive to them and treat it as a criterion for choosing words so as not to hurt people. This also applies to Catholics. Remember that raising the culture of expression may contribute to a better life in Poland, regardless of the environment we live in,’ he says.

Media Review
In his opinion, Polish law contains all possibilities to deal with this problem. The Criminal Code states that `whoever publicly insults a group of people or an individual person because of their national, ethnic, racial or religious affiliation or because of their lack of any religious denomination, or for such reasons violates the bodily integrity of another person, shall be subject to the penalty of imprisonment for up to three years.’

Dr. Bilewicz adds that this provision can only be extended to include the criterion of discrimination due to gender and psychosexual orientation.

`Compared to the law in the United States, our regulations are quite restrictive. In the United States, there is an amendment to the constitution that guarantees full freedom of expression and no one can be convicted for it,’ he says.

He adds that although Polish law has mechanisms to deal with hate speech, they must be enforced more effectively by the police and the prosecutor`s office. And this - he says - has been a big problem in recent years.

In December 2023, the Ombudsman, Marcin Wiącek, said at a scientific conference in Gorzów Wielkopolski that the fight against hate speech was the duty of the state, and the current Criminal Code provided insufficient protection against it.

The Ombudsman pointed out that it would be a good idea to introduce a new category of crime, a `hate crime` - similar to the currently applicable `hooligan offence`. `The state should have appropriate instruments to properly condemn every crime that has been committed for motives relating to hate`, the Ombudsman emphasised.

***
source: PAP Science in Poland

Share the article:

dodaj na Facebook prześlij przez Messenger dodaj na Twitter dodaj na LinkedIn

COMMERCIAL BREAK
Work In Media

New articles in section Media industry

Paid journalistic content. Market trends and forecasts by Reuters Institute

Krzysztof Fiedorek
Only 18 percent of internet users pay for online news access, and the rate has not increased for the third year in a row. Norway sets records with 42%, while Greece does not exceed 7%. Globally, nearly one in three subscribers cancels after a year.

Gen Alpha avoids tough topics. What young people are really looking for

Krzysztof Fiedorek
Generation Alpha prefers humor in 46% of cases, while only 12% are interested in news and political topics. Young people and children consciously limit what negatively affects their emotions - according to the report "Gen Alpha Unfiltered" published by GWI.

YouTube redefines viewer engagement. Goodbye to returning viewers

KFi
As many as 30% of internet users now turn to YouTube as their main news source, and 65% consume news in video form. Now the platform is shaking things up. Reach still matters, but engagement is what really counts.


See articles on a similar topic:

Global Media Under Scrutiny. Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2024

Krzysztof Fiedorek
The “Digital News Report 2024,” developed by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, describes the landscape of digital news media based on data from 47 markets, representing more than half of the world’s population.

The Future of Journalism and Media. Predictions by Reuters Institute

KFi
74% of publishers fear a decline in search traffic. Paid subscribers are no longer growing as they used to, and relationships with tech giants are becoming increasingly complex. The report "Journalism, Media, and Technology Trends and Predictions 2025" forecasts what lies ahead for the media world in 2025.

Virtual Influencers Perceived as More Authentic than Real Ones

Agnieszka Kliks-Pudlik
Virtual influencers are fictional, generated characters that imitate the appearance and behaviour of real people. They have millions of followers. They are perceived by Gen-Alpha as even more authentic than real people, which creates many challenges, says Dr. Ada Florentyna Pawlak.

Blogs in E-commerce. Report by Elephate and Senuto

KrzysztoF
The average number of indexed articles on e-commerce blogs is 565, with each post attracting 347 readers per month. The health industry generates the highest organic traffic per single article. The authors of the "E-commerce Blog Ranking" take a behind-the-scenes look at the commercial blogosphere.

More in the section: Media industry

Work in media

United States
New York • Washington DC • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Phoenix • Philadelphia United Kingdom
London • Birmingham • Manchester • Liverpool • Glasgow • Edinburgh Canada
Toronto • Ottawa • Montreal • Calgary Australia
Sydney • Melbourne • Brisbane • canberra Ireland, New Zealand, India

advertisement

Flying Tiger




community

Facebook LinkedIn X Twitter TikTok Instagram Threads Youtube Google News Blue Sky Social RSS

Reporterzy.info - online media studies magazine. The world of communication from the inside. Media, journalism, PR and marketing. Data, reports, analyses, advice. History and market, law, photography, job offers.



Reporter shopping

Reporter shopping

Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
for writing
Digital SLR and compact cameras
Digital SLR and compact cameras
for photographers
Books and e-books about media
Books and e-books about media
for reading
Video drones and flying cameras
Video drones and flying cameras
for pilots
Gimbals for stabilizing video
Gimbals for stabilizing video
for those on the move
Software and apps for creative work
Software and apps for creative work
for digital creators
More occasions

advertisementMedia Review 24/7
Read books and e-books

Read books and e-books

Okładka Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Okładka The 40-Day Social Media Fast
The 40-Day Social Media Fast
Okładka Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Okładka Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Okładka Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Okładka Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
more books and e-books

Reporterzy.info

More about us

Our tools and services

Contact


© Dwornik.pl Bartłomiej Dwornik 2oo1-2o25