Exposure to Online Hateful Content and Users’ Engagement: A Silencing Effect

Abstract

Although there has been recent interest in the effects of exposure to online hate speech targeting ethnic minority groups, there are some underexplored areas. In a context dominated by debates over free and hateful speech across social media platforms, it has never been more pertinent to investigate whether exposure to Facebook content targeting Roma people, Europe’s largest ethnic minority group, leads to different levels of willingness to act (either positively, countering hateful content, or negatively, enhancing it). By a 4 × 2 experimental design (degree of hate speech × valence of accompanying comments) conducted in Romania, this research shows people’s general tendency to keep silent and avoid supporting or reacting in favor of the Roma minority group. Results can be used for evidence-based solutions to limit and discourage online hateful content.