Study (2024): "Loud Hatred - Quiet Withdrawal . How online hate threatens democratic discourse"
Results of a representative survey.
The internet is one of the most important public debate platforms of our time. But digital interaction is coming under increasing pressure. Many people are withdrawing from public discourse online in the face of insults, death threats or rape threats. Right-wing extremists in particular are mobilising on social networks in large numbers, spreading hate and disinformation.
A representative study of internet users in Germany entitled "Lauter Hass – leiser Rückzug. Wie Hass im Netz den demokratischen Diskurs bedroht" ["Loud Hatred - Quiet Withdrawal . How online hate threatens democratic discourse"] (February 2024) shows that online hate is commonplace and that urgent action is needed if we want to protect democracy from this trend. The study was carried out by the non-profit organisations Das NETTZ, Gesellschaft für Medienpädagogik und Kommunikationskultur, HateAid and Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen as part of the Kompetenznetzwerk gegen Hass im Netz (Competence Network against Hate on the Internet), an association of organisations which is committed to combatting hate in the digital space.
This new study is the most comprehensive survey on perceptions, concerns and consequences of online hate in Germany since 2019. It also examines selected aspects of the topic of religion as a target of online hate. The following article provides an overview of the most important results of the study, selected results related to religion, and policy recommendations.
The most important results at a glance:
1. Online hate can affect everyone. But not everyone is affected equally.
Almost one in two people (49%) have been insulted online at some point. A quarter (25%) of respondents have been threatened with physical violence, and 13% with sexual violence. According to their own statements, those groups which are particularly affected are people with a visible migration background (30%) and those with a homosexual (28%) or bisexual (36%) orientation. Almost half of young women (42%) have received an unsolicited nude photo.
2. Online hate leads to withdrawal from democratic discourse.
More than half of respondents are less likely to express their own political opinion (57%), are participating less often in discussions (55%) and are deliberately formulating their contributions more carefully (53%) on the internet due to fear. 82% of respondents fear that online hate is endangering diversity on the internet. More than three quarters (76%) are concerned that online hate will also lead to more violence in everyday life. The majority (89%) agree that online hate has increased in recent years.
3. Platforms must take responsibility for online hate.
86% of respondents believe that social media platforms need to take more responsibility. 79% agree that these platforms should also bear financial responsibility for the damage to society caused by online hate.
Results relating to anti-religious hate online
1. Religion is a target of online hate
The hatred experienced by those affected most often relates to their political views (41%) or their appearance (37%). Physical and mental health was the basis in about one in four cases (24%), their migration background was mentioned by 17%, and sexual orientation or gender identity by 16%. Religion was also mentioned by 16% of internet users. This means that religion is one of the six most common topics in hate messages surveyed in the study.
2. Online hate is targeted against diversity. This also applies to Muslims and Jewish people
Respondents see aggressive or derogatory statements on the internet most often directed against politicians (60%), followed by refugees (58%) and activists (54%).After politicians and activists, internet users often observe hatred against groups who are discriminated against on the grounds of racism and antisemitism. These include: people with a migration background (52%), Muslims (45%), non-white people (36%) and Jewish people (31%).
3. (Anti-Muslim) racism is often not recognised as such.
The internet users were asked: "Which of the following examples would you describe as online hate?" A clear majority (93%) say that racist insults can be classified as online hate. However, when presented with examples of racist statements, the respondents' classification turns out to be less unequivocal. For example, when presented with the statement "When a person says that Islam is taking over Europe", only 49% say that this is online hate. There are disparities here according to political orientation: respondents who classify themselves as (more) left-wing are more likely to describe the statement as online hate (61%) than respondents who classify themselves as (more) right-wing (39%).
Political challenges
This study confirms: online hate is destabilising the foundations of our democracy. Politicians must act urgently to counter this development:
Those affected must be better protected and supported!
What is needed is a nationwide network of specialised advice centres, as well as law enforcement authorities who have been trained and informed, who take those affected seriously and do not dismiss them. In addition, the existing German laws must be consistently applied online. Also, social media platforms must take consistent action against hate speech and violations of youth media protection laws.
2. Social media platforms must be held financially accountable!
Hate, disinformation and violence are amplified by the business models of the major social media platforms and are causing significant damage to all of us and to democracy. So, platforms should do all they can to consistently prevent this damage. At the same time, very large online platforms must spend a portion of their profits to adequately cover the social costs of this damage.
3. Media literacy and political education must be strengthened!
For this purpose, a national initiative for media literacy education must be implemented. To achieve this, funds of at least the same amount (€6.5 billion) as the Digital Pact must be made available by the federal and state governments.
Targeted and consistent actionagainst online hate also requires the existing pro-democracy civil society structures to be promoted and hate dynamics on the internet to be continuously monitored.
As early as 2023, publishing associations had developed recommendations for political action.
Turning Research into Action: Insights for GTTO’s Next Steps
The study from the Kompetenznetzwerk Hass im Netz can significantly inform and shape the future work of Get the Trolls Out! (GTTO) in several ways. The first being an overview of patterns of hate online including online hate targeting diversity and the level of hate which often goes unclassified as such e.g., anti-Muslim hate. Throughout the project regular monitoring activities, Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen has noted additional patterns and trends in German news coverage complementing the figures and results of the research. To name some examples:
Muslims too rarely have their say
The media still talk far more about Muslims than with them. In addition, they are more often portrayed as militia supporters or terrorists than as members of civil society.
2. Stereotypical images
Muslims are often labelled as different, foreign or stereotypical - for example by illustrating Islam related news with women from behind wearing headscarves. Or they are placed in the context of security risks or alleged cultural challenges.
3. Generalising debates
Media professionals repeatedly fall into exclusionary and generalising dynamics. In media reports, Muslims are often labelled as a ‘problem’, are homogenised and placed in contrast to German society (Othering) - for example in debates about clan crime or Ramadan lighting in German cities.
These tendencies in German media can favour hate in the commentary columns.
Overall the study of the Kompetenznetzwerk Hass im Netz confirms many of the patterns and trends that Get the Trolls Out! has observed, particularly the increasing prevalence of hate speech across digital platforms and the social dynamics that drive it. By aligning with these findings, GTTO can build on its existing work by developing more targeted interventions to address the root causes and spread of online hate.
About the study
The study "Lauter Hass - leiser Rückzug" was commissioned in 2023 by the civil society organisations Das NETTZ, Gesellschaft für Medienpädagogik und Kommunikationskultur, HateAid and Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen as part of the Kompetenznetzwerk gegen Hass im Netz.
The aim of the survey was to provide an up-to-date picture of online hate in Germany. This is the first time since the IDZ's (Institute for Democracy and Civil Society) 2019 study that empirical data of such a scope and level of detail have been available. More than 3,000 internet users in Germany aged 16 and over were surveyed. The survey period ran from October to November 2023 (preliminary survey: July to August 2023)
The scientific implementation was carried out by pollytix strategic research GmbH (preliminary survey: Bilendi GmbH).
All the information on the study:
https://kompetenznetzwerk-hass-im-netz.de/lauter-hass-leiser-rueckzug
